Two months to go before MONDIACULT: world conference dedicated to cultural policies

Forty years after the first edition of MONDIACULT, UNESCO is bringing together representatives of its 193 Member States, including some 100 ministers of culture, at the end of September for a world conference dedicated to cultural policies.

The event, which will be opened by Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, aims to affirm culture as a "global public good", as the foundation of our common humanity, and to define the future of public policies in this field.

As the world gradually turns the page on the COVID19 pandemic, culture has a major role to play in the development of our societies, the reduction of inequalities, and the empowerment and well-being of individuals.

According to UNESCO figures, the cultural and creative sector is also a powerful economic driver: it represents more than 48 million jobs worldwide (6.2% of all existing jobs) and 3.1% of the global GDP. It is also the sector that employs and provides opportunities for the largest number of young adults under the age of 30.

MONDIACULT 2022, organised by UNESCO with the support of Mexico, aims to respond to the major contemporary challenges around four areas of debate:
— How to revitalize and strengthen cultural policies?
— What place for culture in sustainable development?
— How to respond to crises affecting heritage and cultural diversity?
— What future for the creative economy?

Topics such as the fight against illicit trafficking in cultural goods, the return of works to their countries of origin, the status of the artist, the digital revolution, sustainable cultural tourism and the role of culture in protecting the climate will be at the heart of the discussions.

The ministers of culture are slated to adopt a joint declaration at the end of the debate.

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Original article.