The Isle of Man is increasingly leveraging its cultural heritage and diplomatic ties to strengthen international relationships, Chief Minister Alf Cannan MHK has said.
Speaking at a Tynwald committee hearing, Mr Cannan highlighted how the island’s unique identity is becoming a key asset in external relations.
“Our arts, heritage and culture feature prominently in conversations with devolved administrations,” Mr Cannan said. “It creates openings for greater friendship and relationships.”
He cited last year’s British-Irish Council summit, where Manx language and culture took center stage, as a prime example of this strategy in action.
BIC
Chris Brannigan, Director of External Relations, elaborated on how cultural connections complement formal diplomacy.
“The British-Irish Council runs a workstream on minority languages, which forms an important part of our engagement,” Mr Brannigan said. “When we signed the Liverpool MOU, cultural threads were a key consideration in structuring the agreement.”
The soft power approach appears to be paying dividends.
Mr Cannan said: “We’ve seen cultural links benefit the economy through tourism and education.”
Mr Brannigan added that initiatives like the UNESCO Biosphere designation generate “extraordinarily positive engagement” when raised with UK politicians.
The government is now systematically building on these foundations.
Mr Brannigan said: “Part of our plan is to ensure we have 20-30 champions in Westminster who can speak positively about the Isle of Man.
The strategy extends beyond the UK. Recent meetings with the South African High Commissioner and engagement with the Manchester Consular Association demonstrate how cultural connections are opening doors globally.
As the chief put it: “This is an important element of what the island offers.”
7 Comments