Beyond Borders Scotland, in collaboration with Club de Madrid Honorary Chair President Bill Clinton, begins the promotion of a global discussion around Saudi artist Manal Al Dowayan this week with the Club`s annual conference on the 17-18 December at the Clinton Public Library at Little Rock, Arkansas.

This year`s event, hosted by Clinton, brings together over 30 of its members – all former Heads of State or government – with worldwide experts, and will focus on identifying solutions to further the empowerment of women in the 21st Century. Of the 32 former leaders present, many represented small nations, which makes the Club a fitting partner to Beyond Borders Scotland, whose core philosophy is based on harnessing Scotland`s own unique heritage to provide a platform for cultural leaders from other iconic small nations around the world to exchange experiences in an effort to promote understanding and help reduce conflict. Indeed it is predicted that the prospect of Scottish independence will be a hot topic in the conference`s informal debates.

Mark Muller Stuart KC has been asked to open the conference as Master of Ceremonies in the event`s inaugural co-curated lunch session on the theme of Women in the Arts and Media, with Jennifer Mary Shipley, Vice president of the Club de Madrid and former Prime Minister of New Zealand (1997-1999), Maya Harris, Vice president at the Ford Foundation, actress Geena Davis and Manal Al Dowayan.

Al Dowayan is at the centre of the Club de Madrid-Beyond Borders collaboration. An artist from Saudi Arabia`s Eastern Province, her work draws its main inspiration from the Saudi women`s experience, questioning their place and role in modern Saudi society, and thus provides a thoughtful demonstration of the power of cultural diplomacy in addressing politically sensitive issues. Mark Muller Stuart was instrumental in facilitating a residency for her in London with the Delfina Foundation, which he helped co-found. At the upcoming Little Rock conference, she will exhibit her photography installation I AM and participate in world-class debates on the empowerment of women in the arts. In partnership an artistic dialogue and exchange was designed around Manal`s poignant art, with the support of British Council Scotland, which will see her travel from Little Rock to South Africa and conclude in Scotland at the Beyond Borders literary and thought festival.

Beyond Borders collaboration with Club de Madrid is not limited to Manal Al Dowayan`s art, and it is hoped the relationship will continue throughout 2013, with more partnered events. Additionally, some Members of the Club, those previously representing equally iconic small nations, will be brought to Scotland to take part in a Beyond Borders curated panel at the Edinburgh Festival of Politics – to be held in the Scottish Parliament in August 2013, where the power of small nations will be debated. The collaboration between the two organisations began last year after Mark Muller Stuart met President Clinton at the Club du Madrid`s Annual Congress in New York.

Beyond Borders Executive Director Mark Muller Stuart adds: we`re delighted to be partnering with Club de Madrid and President Clinton. Events such as these once again demonstrate the power of cultural and public diplomacy. The Presidential Library in Little Rock, like Traquair House in the Scottish Borders, maybe a little bit off the beaten track but when you combine stimulating debate in a great and welcoming setting its not too difficult to understand why many statesmen and women are willing to come from all over the globe to participate. I hope this is the beginning of an enduring relationship between us and that some of the Club can join us to debate the power of small nations at next year at Traquair House and at Festival of Politics at the Scottish Parliament.

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