Culture and art at NATO summits

NATO summits are the apex of political-military dialogue. They provide opportunities for Allied Heads of State and Government to discuss complex issues of political and strategic importance to the Alliance. But to take a break from the stress of high-stakes meetings en route to the peak, summits often include artistic and cultural activities that celebrate the heritage of the host country, including visits to local museums, theatres or opera performances after working hours. Take a look at the selection of photos below and immerse yourself in some of the art and culture that have provided high points during NATO summits!

Madrid, 29-30 June 2022

On the second day of the Madrid Summit, His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain drew NATO Leaders together for a dinner at the Prado Museum, which houses some of the most revered works of art by Francisco de Goya, Hieronymus Bosch, El Greco, Peter Paul Rubens, Titian and Diego Velázquez. Before dinner Heads of State and Government cruised around Prado’s galleries and the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra treated them to a live concert. You can listen to the performance here.

Brussels, 14 June 2021

At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic was still testing the resilience of Allied countries, NATO Leaders followed appropriate safety and health measures to meet in person at the 2021 Brussels Summit. Heads of State and Government were invited to embark on a socially distanced virtual journey to 2030 by watching a multimedia display about NATO’s agenda for the future.

NATO Leaders watch a multimedia display about NATO 2030, 14 June 2021.

Brussels, 11-12 July 2018

On the first day of the 2018 Brussels Summit, NATO Leaders and their partners gathered in the beautiful Parc du Cinquantenaire to watch an uplifting show : a floating dancer suspended by blue and white balloons. After she had slowly descended to the ground, she met a group of artists playing the saxophone – the classical instrument created by Belgian inventor Adolphe Sax.

Chicago, 20-21 May 2012

In a real home run, NATO Leaders were invited to take in a cultural staple of the host city ahead of the Chicago Summit: baseball. They watched the Chicago Cubs take on the Chicago White Sox at Wrigley Field. Before the game, a tribute was paid to veterans of NATO member and partner countries, and General John R. Allen, Commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, threw the first pitch.

Military and NATO personnel attend a baseball game before the start of the Chicago Summit, 19 May 2012.

Bucharest, 2-4 April 2008

On the second day of the Bucharest Summit, the partners of NATO Leaders enjoyed a show of traditional Romanian folk dancing at the Dimitrie Gusti Village Museum. Located just outside the city, the museum is laid out like a typical rural Romanian village and includes around 300 authentic rural buildings from every region of the country.

Riga, 28-29 November 2006

In a high note between meetings at the 2006 Riga Summit, NATO Leaders attended a concert by internationally renowned youth choir Kamēr at the Latvian National Opera. The cultural programme for the evening was organised by the President of Latvia Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga

Istanbul, 28-29 June 2004

To put a spin on events on the first day of the Istanbul Summit, NATO Leaders attended a Sufi whirling performance, a form of physically active meditation that looks like a dance and is practised by the Sufi dervishes of the 750-year-old Mevlevi order. During this worship ceremony, the dervishes – the followers of the mystical Islamic belief of Sufism – aim to reach greater connection with Allah. The action of waving in a circular movement is at the core of this performance.

Prague, 21-22 November 2002

On the eve of the 2002 Prague Summit, a farewell  dinner was held to honour President Václav Havel, who was retiring after a long and storied career. The Czech President was a man of arts and politics, and his work was crucial in bringing Czechia into the Alliance in the 1990s. The dinner took place at Prague Castle and featured various performances, including a concert by the Castle Guard Fanfare Orchestra, which was a feast for the ears. NATO’s 19 Heads of State and Government presented President Havel with an honorary copy of the North Atlantic Treaty and Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of Czechia.

Washington D.C., 23-24 April 1999

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of NATO, US President Bill Clinton hosted a dinner, which capitalised on the opera-tunity to include a cultural programme inspired by the founding of NATO. Soprano singer Jessye Norman performed a number of songs from George Gershwin’s opera ‘Porgy and Bess’, which had been played by the US Marine Band during the signing ceremony of the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949.

NATO Leaders honour the origins of the Alliance, 23 April 1999 . Video courtesy of William J. Clinton Presidential Library.