Through a series of artistic outputs, products, symposia and dialogues, this programme seeks to explore how culture, during a global financial crisis, can contribute to the development of a sustainable society through international cooperation and cohesion. This will reveal whether in times of economic difficulty, which leads to social problems, access to culture can function as an effective instrument to catalyze positive action. Specific thematic starting points to explore are:• Gentrification or Regeneration? - Berlin as the culture hub - a driving force of civic and urban redevelopment or cultural tourism?• Culture in an economic crisis- The impact of Irelands banking bailout by the international community upon cultural activity• Creative Nation for Creative Export- Can Scotland’s culture compete with the global brand identity of whiskey, golf and tartan?• Mexico’s Mean Streets- The role of Culture in documenting and critiquing social injustice and unrest in contemporary MexicoThe discussions and collaborations around these themes will be structured in 3 phases of artistic outputs, which are outlined below .Phase 1 will take the format of an open call to professional artists over 30 years of age, who wish undertake cultural exchange between Europe and Mexico and are working in sculpture or extended sculptural/3 dimensional fields (sound/performance/installation etc.). Phase 2 enable curators and other arts professionals to undertake significant curatorial research and development across Ireland, Germany, Scotland and Mexico. Phase 3 will comprise of mini career development exchanges for 4 emergent artists, to swap positions in Europe and Mexico for a period of three months. Across these phases, artists practice will be explored in context, to inform new methodologies for the creation of artworks. The programme will expose artists, arts professionals and audiences to exemplar ways of making and thinking around contemporary art.