The theme of this year’s Summit is ‘Culture: Connecting People and Places’ and weaves together three programme strands to reflect on the fractured world in which we live, and demonstrate how culture can make connections across perceived divisions in society.

In 2016 forty-three countries attended with deliverables that included cultural protection and cultural investment strategies. This year, Sierra Leone will be represented by Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Dr. Memunata Pratt. The Summit will address issues of culture and investment; culture and wellbeing; and culture in a networked world. Each theme will be the focus of plenary sessions in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.

Minister Pratt will get the opportunity to meet the British Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Jeremy Wright and Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism, Michael Ellis. There will be an opening ceremony and an evening reception at the Holyroodhouse. As a Commonwealth Culture Minister Dr. Pratt will also participate in a round table to focus on the 1954 Hague Convention on Protection of Cultural Property.

The British Council in Sierra Leone has supported the Ministry in their representation at the Culture Summit in Edinburgh. The Council is currently in the process of bidding farewell to the outgoing Head Simon Ingram-Hill, and welcoming the new Head Tony Reilly, to the role. Mr Reilly said “in organising the culture summit, the British Council joins forces with the Edinburgh International Festival, the Scottish Government, The Scottish Parliament and the UK Government. Together we represent five partners who all strongly believe in the unique power and importance of culture in today’s increasingly connected world.”