World Festival of Cultural Diversity
Cross-cultural exchange
Cultures emerge and evolve from centuries of exchange between diverse peoples, communities and civilizations. They influence, and are influenced by, such dynamic interactions. Here are some remarkable examples from across Europe.
Five buildings that have been both mosques and churches
Italian archeologists' impact on the history and heritage of Dodecanese islands.
Discover the longstanding tradition of offering intricately produced textiles to the holy shrines.
The Muslim inventor who may have inspired Leonardo da Vinci
Read about this story of mutual discovery in Part 1 of 'Jesuits in China'
Kimono's social history represents a unique cultural exchange between Japan and Europe
How the medieval art of Alhambra inspired one of Spain’s greatest modern masters
Architecture and cultural heritage of the Armenian diaspora across Europe
Under-represented cultures
The stories of many marginalised communities across Europe - social, ethnic and faith-based - are beginning to emerge. The contributions of these communities to the wider European culture are the focus of this section.
Discover the story of the first woman in Liverpool to convert to Islam
Ανακαλύψτε την ιστορία των Μαύρων στην Ευρώπη
Εξερευνήστε τις ιστορίες των ατόμων με αναπηρίες από ολόκληρη την Ευρώπη
Collections and stories about Islamic customs, tradition, culture and history
Εξερευνήστε τα Εβραϊκά έθιμα, παραδόσεις, πολιτισμό και ιστορία
Περιπέτειες, ιστορίες και πολιτισμική κληρονομιά από όλη την Ευρώπη
Gypsy, Roma, Traveller communities, images and identities over a millennium
Ανακαλύψτε αξιολόγες γυναίκες και το έργο τους στην ιστορία
European cultural expressions
Aside from the rich cultures and traditions brought to Europe by the diaspora from around the world, Europe's own indigenous cultural landscape is incredibly diverse. Here are some fascinating stories of European cultural expressions.
Catalonia's human towers
Explore Europe's remarkable variety of customs and traditions in this special exhibition
Shadow puppet theatre is a staple summer evening entertainment in Greece, with what’s known as Karagiozis shadow theatre
Follow the evolution of lace craft, from myth to machine
The Dutch tradition of displaying poems on streets and walls
Stories of women's aspirations, support for one another and hidden power
Renowned scholar of the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church
How the tulip became a symbol of Turkey and the Netherlands
World Festival of Cultural Diversity - Khalili Foundation
The World Festival of Cultural Diversity is a global, synchronised celebration of cultural diversity supported by UNESCO. It is a year-round programme of events and activities leading up to the UN World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development on 21 May 2023. Read more about how Europeana are taking part.
Editorial grants programme
In the first half of 2023, part of our editorial grants programme is dedicated to the World Festival of Cultural Diversity, supporting underrepresented stories and experiences on religious diversity.
This provides €200 funding for writers to contribute blogs for europeana.eu that put a spotlight on underrepresented communities, voices and lived experiences.