Core strands of the Freedom to Flourish strategy were highlighted during an international academic conference in Lerwick, Shetland.
‘Taking Shetland out of the Box: Island Cultures and Shetland Identity’ was organised by the University of Aberdeen’s Elphinstone Institute and took place in the Shetland Museum and Archives.
The conference brought together presenters from Europe, North America, Asia, Australasia, the Middle East and the Isle of Man, represented by Freedom to Flourish marketing consultant Alistair Audsley, Education Minister Anne Craine MHK, and Michel Leseure and Ruth Mackrell from the Isle of Man International Business School.
Mr Audsley, who had been invited to give the opening speech for the conference and to chair a forum by conference convener Adam Grydehoj, said ‘This was a predominantly academic conference themed around island cultures and national identity, which looked at a vast range of subjects, including folklore, anthropology, history, heritage, economic development and political autonomy.
‘My opening speech, Cultural Identity and Country of Origin Effect, seemed to be well received, focusing as it did on how culture can be taken for granted and relegated to not-for-profit status.
'But I stressed that for us in the Isle of Man, our culture is a key point of difference, defining who we are and is highly valued as a marketing asset, echoing the strand of the Freedom to Flourish strategy that seeks 'to protect our unique culture, heritage, lifestyle and identity at a time of intense globalisation'.
‘Later I chaired a forum on 'Perspectives on Island Autonomy', where the discussion panel included Sandy Cluness, convener of the Shetland Islands Council; Hogni Hoydal, member of the Faroese parliament; Richard McMahon, external relations policy and legal adviser to the States of Guernsey; Harry Jansson, a member of the Norwegian parliament representing Aland; Hussein Gurshan, senior adviser to the president of the de facto government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; and Drew Ratter, of the Crofters’ Commission and Shetland Islands Council.’
‘Much of the discussion focused on how far island nations could aspire to full statehood, where we compared the Shetland Islands, which are only in the fledgling stages of autonomy with the Isle of Man, which is effectively self governing.
‘During the course of the conference it was fascinating to learn about other islands’ cultural and external relations issues and also to discover how highly the Isle of Man’s Freedom to Flourish approach is regarded by other Islands.
'In fact, there was a great deal of interest in the Isle of Man, especially from Northern Cyrpus, whose economy is based on tourism and education. Their delegates were genuinely surprised by our success, having previously believed our Island to be just a 'distant cousin' of the Shetland Islands.’
Since attending the conference Mr Audsley has been invited to lecture at the University of Northern Cyprus.
Pictured: Alistair Audsley
