Strategic Objective 8: Fostering creativity and the diversity of cultural expressions

Main Line of Action 2: Supporting and promoting the diversity of cultural expressions, the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage, and the development of cultural and creative industries

04022     In times of crisis, new social and economic models have to be developed in which creativity, creative industries and intangible cultural heritage play an important role as source of innovation. UNESCO will therefore continue to promote cultural creativity and innovation as a vector of dialogue, cooperation and mutual understanding, and as a specific component of broader initiatives to promote innovative approaches to sustainable development. Communities and practitioners will be at the centre of all efforts, in particular the youth, who should be given the opportunity to develop their creative potential, with special attention given to Africa, SIDS and LDCs. Cooperation with cultural actors, NGOs, nonprofit organizations, experts, and centres of expertise will be pursued to this end.

04023     Action under this MLA will concentrate on strengthening the legal, policy, institutional and human environments that safeguard the intangible cultural heritage and promote creativity and the emergence of dynamic cultural and creative industries, on supporting the effective implementation and monitoring of the 2003 and 2005 Conventions and their mechanisms of international cooperation and on reinforcing cooperation at the national, regional and international levels through knowledge sharing and operational partnerships.

04024     The 2003 Convention’s potential as a powerful tool to improve the social and cultural well-being of communities and to mobilize innovative and culturally appropriate responses to the various challenges of sustainable development – climate change and natural disasters, loss of biodiversity, safe water, conflicts, unequal access to food, education and health, migration, urbanization, social marginalization and economic inequities – will be fully explored. Traditional systems of conflict avoidance can help prevent disputes and facilitate peace-building, while also playing crucial roles in recovery and reconciliation. Emphasis will be given to empowering marginalized and vulnerable communities and individuals to participate fully in cultural life through the continued creativity that is a defining characteristic of intangible cultural heritage, and to make cultural choices according to their own 167 37 C/5 Approved – Major Programme IV wishes and aspirations. Customary practices of environmental protection and resource management will be reinforced to strengthen disaster risk management and support adaptation to climate change.

04025     The 2005 Convention will support mechanisms that foster creativity and support the emergence of dynamic cultural and creative industries as a tool for inclusive economic and social development, including those that that foster local production of cultural goods and services, the development of local markets and access to platforms for their distribution/exchange worldwide. Priority will also be given to reinvigorating the international debate to improve socio-economic conditions for artists, promote individual mobility and preferential treatment for creative works from the global South. In addition, UNESCO will continue its efforts to support artists through fellowships and grants for young artists.

04026     Particular attention will be placed on the further development of capacity building programmes to support the effective implementation of the 2003 and 2005 Conventions at the national level. This is to be achieved through demand-driven technical assistance and engagement of local and regional expertise, including the training of experts; and the production and dissemination of training materials and tools, including for policy making, data collection and partnership development.

04027     In strengthening the international mechanisms of the 2003 and 2005 Conventions, efforts to increase ratifications will continue to be pursued and the decision-making process of its governing bodies will be facilitated and supported. Their roles as forums for international cooperation will be strengthened, in particular through the effective management of their respective Funds and proactive fund raising strategies.

004028     Enhanced international cooperation to support indicator development/benchmarking, notably through the UNESCO Culture for Development Indicator Suite, and the collection of information, data and best practices to be disseminated through the knowledge management tools system will be essential for their effective monitoring.

004029     Partnerships with other UN, international and regional organizations as well as with civil society networks will be established for the implementation of both Conventions at the country level and synergies will be pursued.

004030     Action to enhance global awareness of the importance of intangible cultural heritage and creativity for sustainable development, social inclusion and cohesion, dialogue and peace, will be further developed, notably through knowledge management and strategic cooperation with external partners. In this regard, translation and its role in promoting mutual understanding will be enhanced and cooperation with African and Arab States will be strengthened.

004031     International cooperation will be furthermore enhanced under the revitalized International Fund for the Promotion of Culture which will be developed as a catalyst of culture for sustainable development by supporting arts and creativity projects in developing countries, in synergy with the other UNESCO Funds in the field of culture. Particular attention will be paid to developing adequate fund-raising strategies to sustain this Fund. Capacities to nurture cultural expressions and creativity for dialogue and social cohesion through the arts will be strengthened for all generations in particular for children and youth. To this end, arts education will be further promoted and new partnerships will be sought at all levels of the education systems, formal and informal. Such capacity development actions will be complemented by world class initiatives to promote the visual and performing arts, undertaken in partnership with leading artists, architects and institutions from all regions. 37 C/5 Approved – Major Programme IV 168

04032     The Creative Cities Network will be further developed to better capitalize on cities and local governments as major partners for promoting sustainable development through international cooperation between cities of developed and developing countries. In this regard, the Network will continue to explore the challenges of rapid global urbanization and urban renewal and further promote cities as hubs of creativity and innovation. Emphasis will be given to the growth of the network, in numbers of cities and quality of exchanges by offering leverage for stronger interaction between stakeholders: private and public sectors, decision makers and civil society, in particular in developing countries and Africa. Programmes will be developed jointly with the cities for poverty alleviation and improved social balance between communities.