The Third International Conference on Cultural Policy successfully conducted with the support of UNESCO in Yerevan, Armenia
The Third International Conference “Cultural Policy and Policy for Culture: The Role of Culture in Sustainable Development in the Post-2015 Agenda” was conducted on the 10-14 July 2015 in Yerevan, the Republic of Armenia. Dedicated to the UNESCO 70th Anniversary Celebrations, the Conference was organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia, the Service for the Protection of Historical Environment and Cultural Museum-Reservation, in cooperation with the Armenian National Commission for UNESCO, with the support of the UNESCO Moscow Office and active participation of UNESCO representatives.
The Third International Conference was held as a follow up of two previous Regional Conferences of the CIS Countries on Cultural Policy which took place in Yerevan with special focuses on promoting UNESCO approaches, as well as national strategies in the field of culture, entitled respectively “Towards a New Cultural Policy Profile” (2009) and “Culture and Development” (2012), both conducted with the consultative and financial support of the UNESCO Moscow Office and in partnership with the Russian Institute for Cultural Research.
The Third Cultural Policy Conference was attended by more than 120 experts from Armenia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Georgia, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Moldova, Russia, Romania, Syria, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Vatican, and Viet Nam. Among the participants were culture ministers, heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations, representatives of cultural centers and NGOs and concerned departments and leading experts of the sphere.
The Conference was officially opened by the Minister of Culture of Armenia, Ms.Hasmik Poghosyan at the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts “Matenadaran”. Ms. Poghosyan congratulated the participants with the 70-th anniversary of UNESCO and reaffirmed the commitment of the Conference to the principles of cultural diversity, mutual respect and intercultural dialogue, highlighting the need to develop national policies according to the global priorities in the sphere of culture.
A welcoming speech was made by the President of the Armenian National Commission for UNESCO, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Mr. Eduard Nalbandyan. A message from UNESCO Director-General Ms. Irina Bokova was presented by Mr. Alfredo Pérez de Armiñán, Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO.
The Conference was designed with the overall goals of stimulating better integration of culture into development policies, and application of the integrated approach to heritage, cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue within national and regional policies in the involved countries. Thus, the Conference was held with consideration of the international strategies on the protection and promotion of cultural tangible and intangible heritage and creativity, with particular reference to the UNESCO Cultural Conventions and taking into account the Sustainable Development Goals for the period beyond 2015.
The work of the Conference was arranged in the form of plenary sessions and thematic panel discussions with key presentations and open debates, including:
- Plenary Session: The Role of Culture in Post-2015 Development Agenda: New Reality and Perspectives;
- Discussion Panel 1: Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Present Changing World;
- Discussion Panel 2: Cultural Heritage as Human Consolidation and Spiritual Communication Factor;
- Discussion Panel 3: Cultural Diversity as Guarantee for Intercultural Dialogue and Sustainable Development;
- Closing Session: The Future of Culture: Culture of Future.
At the first Plenary Session, Mr. Pérez de Armiñán made a key speech on “The Role of Culture in Sustainable Development in Post-2015 Agenda”, pointing out that in the contemporary age of limits - in terms of the resources of the planet – we have to invest in renewable resources of culture and education to develop human capital as a wellspring for creativity and growth. In this regard, cultural and creative industries, heritage, tourism, the arts and crafts are essential to achieving sustainable development goals. These strategic sources of culture comprise the social, economic and environmental aspects of development.
During the Conference, the participants approached main prospects and challenges of cultural policies development in the context of the post-2015 sustainable development agenda. Culture was named to be not only an instrument but a target for development.
In particular, the role of culture for sustainable development, especially through cultural and creative industries, heritage in all its forms, and cultural tourism, at the global, regional and national levels has been promoted, an exchange of information and best practices of cultural strategies has been facilitated, as well as the networking and cooperation of the involved countries has been increased for further advancement and global discussion of cultural policies for development, peace and security.
The Conference resulted in the adoption of the Yerevan Declaration which reflects the commitment of participants to the principles of UNESCO and calls on Member-States, societies and international organizations to carry out activities in the field of culture on the basis of justice, freedom, equality, peace and tolerance.
A vibrant cultural programme was provided during the Conference days. The delegates of the Conference visited the Mother See of Holly Etchmiadzin and were honored to meet His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. They also visited the cultural monuments of Armenian which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List: Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin and the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots, and the Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley. The participants also attended the opening ceremony of “Golden Apricot” International Film Festival.
Read more on the official web page of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia: mincult.am/home-1-2579-page-0.html
Related information:
Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform
UN Resolutions “The Future We Want” (2012)
UN Resolutions “Culture and Sustainable Development” (2013)
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