New Project of UNESCO Almaty for Digital Literacy Development and Promotion of Gender Equality in Cultural and Creative Sectors in Central Asia

Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) are among the most hit by the COVID-19 crisis, and the pandemic witnessed a massive migration of cultural activities to online and hybrid forms. As the pandemic triggered the digitization of culture, new challenges are posing to the diversity of cultural expressions with amplified gaps in access, creation, and remuneration. The International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development offers a timely opportunity to broadly reflect this new reality on unprecedented challenges and opportunities. Against this backdrop, UNESCO is launching a new project “Digital Creativity Lab” with the funding from the Republic of Korea to address the digital skills gap in the cultural and creative industries and to strengthen policy frameworks.

The UNESCO Korea Funds-In-Trust (KFIT) for the Development of Cultural and Creative Industries has, for over a decade, invested in the development of creative sectors. Building on this momentum and fully embracing the expanding digital environment, KFIT is now shifting its strategic turn toward supporting cultural entrepreneurship in the digital era. Inspired by the “Content Korea Lab” initiated by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sport of the Republic of Korea, “Digital Creativity Lab” will support training programmes that strengthen digital skills and competencies in the CCIs.

The UNESCO “Digital Creativity Lab” will fund 4 new projects, which are:
• Protecting Musicians’ Intellectual Property in Digital Platforms in Indonesia, led by UNESCO Jakarta Office;
• Digital Transformation of Cultural and Creative Industries in the Republic of Moldova, led by UNESCO Venice Office;
• Strengthening Digital Capacity for Cultural and Creative Entrepreneurs in Mekong Cluster, led by UNESCO Bangkok Office;
• Strengthening Digital Literacy Skills and Competencies and Promoting Gender Equality in Cultural and Creative Sectors in Central Asia, led by UNESCO Almaty Office.

These projects range from supporting actions to protect musicians’ intellectual property in digital platform, piloting a 3 month-long creative digital incubation programme for female creative professionals aged under 45, and analyzing data on women working in the digital cultural and creative sectors followed by the online training programme to strengthen digital skills and competencies. With this new initiative, it is expected to pilot innovative practices in developing countries to implement the 2005 Convention in the Digital environment.