History

The movement started with Love Thing Artist Management in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in 1995 by Mr. A. Fikri and Mr. Stolwijk, to connect cultures by organising cultural events. In Ibiza, the name changed to the Ibiza Beach Movement and events were organised with Tribe in Ibiza and Amsterdam. The events continued in Paris with DJ David Guetta more than 5,000 people from all over the world came to Paris to attend the cultural event.

In London, the movement took a different direction after speaking with Magazine Moving Pictures (Twentieth Century Fox). Ibiza Beach Movement changed its name to Movie Movement Ltd. Together with Moving Pictures, they organised the closing event at the Château de la Napoule at the Cannes Film Festival in 1999. Mr. Fikri met Mr. Klemeniuk, one of the owners of Manray Restaurant in Paris, who asked to continue the movement with other owners including Mr. Johnny Depp, Mr. Mick Hucknall, Mr. Sean Penn, and Mr. John Malkovich.

Due to European unification, Mr. Fikri developed the movement into I.AM.E.C. (I Am European Culture) with the aim of helping the European Union create a European identity and promote integration between 27 countries and all cultures living in Europe. Mr. Fikri moved to Paris and met William Perkins of the Honoris Causa Communication company, a top producer who wanted to continue the project.

In Dubai, Mr. Fikri changed the name to Culturolympics. He met Mr. Ziminejadi of Alliance Corporations, who wanted to build a city under the Culturolympics name. The Director of Strategy & Policy of Dubai, Mr. Tabani, recognised the vision and offered investment. Honoris Causa Communication and Barocco transformed the project into Culturolympics Europa. The French State and UNESCO Mr. Pierre Boyer became involved to set up organisational infrastructure per country.

Barocco Production Company contacted UNESCO Secretary of the French National Commission, Mr. Pierre Boyer, who wanted to set up the entire organisational infrastructure per country for Culturolympics Europe. A meeting with President Sarkozy was arranged as the project aligned with the Union for the Mediterranean vision. However, after the Olympic Games President Mr. Rogge objected to the name, the French partners ceased cooperation.

Mr. Fikri contacted Ernst & Young, who agreed to become a financial partner and created governance and a legal structure embedding the interests of external shareholders. Mr. Fikri changed the name from Culturolympics to United Cultures and partnered with The Entertainment Group (TEG) to manage and become the central control group for all UC projects.

Mr. Fikri was invited by cultural councillors to travel to the European Parliament to speak about integration. He then asked the cultural councillors to join the United Cultures Foundation to become a Cultural Inter Governing body. UC Foundation started organising promo tradeshow events connecting couturiers from The Netherlands, Morocco, France and Turkey to develop "Hope Couture" creations.

The movement organised major cultural events across Europe, including events with DJ David Guetta in Paris drawing over 5,000 attendees from around the world an early demonstration of the power of culture to unite people across borders.

UNESCO's Bureau of Public Information expressed strong support for the CulturOlympics project, confirming it aligned with UNESCO's values of dialogue between peoples and cultural diversity. The French State also engaged directly, with a meeting arranged with then-President Sarkozy as the project aligned with the Union for the Mediterranean vision.

UNESCO Bureau of Public Information, Paris 2007

French State engagement, 2007

Ernst & Young Accountants agreed to partner with United Cultures, creating governance and a legal structure in which the interests of external shareholders are embedded. They provided assurance on financial reporting, accounting of grants, and legal structuring for the foundation.

Ernst & Young partnership letter, June 2007

Ernst & Young governance structure

United Cultures supported the film "The Silent Army" at the Cannes Film Festival a powerful cultural statement connecting African and European storytelling. This represented the foundation's commitment to cultural media as a vehicle for cross-cultural understanding.

Cannes Film Festival red carpet, 2008

Mr. Fikri was invited by cultural councillors from Dutch municipalities and cultural institutions to travel to the European Parliament to speak about cultural integration. This visit reinforced the foundation's commitment to working within established intergovernmental frameworks.

United Cultures delegation at the European Parliament, June 2009

The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Paris formally acknowledged United Cultures and confirmed the Embassy's support and participation in future UC events an early example of the diplomatic engagement that would come to define the foundation's intergovernmental character.

Official letter from Embassy of Nigeria, Paris July 2012

United Cultures organised its first major tradeshow events connecting couturiers from The Netherlands, Morocco, France and Turkey to develop "Hope Couture" creations bringing together cultural designers to produce work representing their nations. Ministers of culture, embassies, universities, and cultural institutions were invited as external stakeholders.

United Cultures Hope Couture tradeshow, Amsterdam

United Cultures Foundation has grown into a collective of foundations, associations, cooperatives, and companies united by a common objective: building a culturally inclusive world. Working toward recognition from 269 target member states and regions, UC continues to expand its network of ambassadors, cultural institutions, governments, and partners globally.

United Cultures strategic development session