In the past few weeks I have taken part in several events which have been trying to flesh out what intercultural dialogue - the European theme of 2008 - might mean - if anything - to the man or woman in the street.

Over at Cargo - a club in Hoxton in the East End of London Lovedifference was starting its three city tour - going on to Northampton and Bristol before the end of the month. The programme advertised "Celebrating Eastern European culture and including political discussions, video art, live music and DJs promoting 'a new European ideal of culture, travel, youth and exchange".

Just after Sunday lunch, coming through the empty brick backstreets I hear the sound of gypsy music. Fiddles and accordian and under the railway arches there is the entrance to the club. Inside - dark and just waking out of the fumes of the night before - a few hardened politicos left over from the Marxism Today brigade though much more smartly dressed (some) await the afternoon session. But as the speakers begin and tell their various stories, the debate is good, more people wander in and contribute their ideas and experiences about migration. Migration/emigration is the European story. It always has been but today takes on a new form. So, this is what the Single Market is all about? But it also creates two worlds as old and new alliances and ties collide. EU or non-EU? Temporary or permanent migrant? We hear the evidence of abuse and suffering, putting up with things that are wrong because you have no position or rights. Who is doing anything about this? Who cares? How are people getting their plight recognised and understood? The media snarls, films and tv begin to show what happens - writers write, people are moved to action. Who do politicians listen to? How do they respond? The day and the debate move on, by the evening the crowds come and the DJ begins. People - a cosmopolitan mix - mingle and dissolve into the music.

The next weekend in Sheffield seems at first to be all about sewing banners, blowing up balloons, preparing a party. Will anyone come? Will the sun shine? Sheffield, the UK's first City of Sanctuary. A European Festival in and around the Cathedral on a Saturday. A chance to find out about the EU - information stalls, MEPs debate, football against racism plus a mixture of the cultures of those who now call Sheffield their home. Open Minds Theatre company from Rotherham acted out the Kashmiri story. The audience of invited guests and Saturday shoppers alike watched the story unfold.

It is their story. Different ages recognised their own experience or learned how things were - still are for some. How things have changed in fifty years - attitudes shifted. And everwhere there were children from so many different types of marriages and partnerships just enjoying the spectacle and the day, the balloons and banners.

Back in London DancEUnion burst upon the Southbank. 23 of the 27 EU States providing young performers to present the best of contemporary dance from around the Continent. Inspired and in part organised by the European Commission Representation in London it was the sort of collaborative endeavour which Jude Kelly, artistic director of the Southbank, spoke about in terms of exactly what Europe should be about: learning from the best across borders, doing things together, appreciating different cultural approaches and backgrounds. The opening free event took the simple idea of a troupe of dancers - a complete mix - moving to the music as they felt it, not stopping - testing their bodies to exhaustion : an amazing feat of energy and colour and hope.

www.LoveDifference.eu

DancEUnion http://www.europe.org.uk/news/view/-/id/295/ssid/3/

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