Salzburg Global Seminar: Achieving the Freer Circulation of Cultural Artifacts (Session 453, May 9–14, 2008)

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From May 9–14, 2008, the Salzburg Global Seminar convened its 453^rd session—and its annual arts and culture session—on “Achieving the Freer Circulation of Cultural Artifacts” at Schloss Leopoldskron in Salzburg. Sixty two participants from twenty-nine countries gathered for the five-day session, aimed at building consensus among cultural authorities and museum representatives from around the world on ways to overcome legal, political, and practical obstacles to the circulation of cultural objects. Participants worked together to identify and assess new and better ways to promote the sharing of art and artifacts—from virtual access to practical strategies for significantly expanding loan programs worldwide. Whereas there are many museum conferences worldwide, few strive to bring together a multi-disciplinary and truly global group of participants for an open, informal exchange of thoughts and ideas in a neutral setting. The gathering in Salzburg, generously supported by The Edward T. Cone Foundation, succeeded in providing an evaluative international forum of this type, which brought diverse experts from a range of national and professional contexts into dialogue and gave them the opportunity to reflect deeply and openly on ways to increase the international exchange of cultural artifacts.