New UNESCO Chair on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions & Seminar: "The Future of Culture in the Digital Age: Challenges for the State"

On November 18, a seminar will be held at Université Laval in Quebec City, Canada, entitled: "The Future of Culture in the Digital Age: Challenges for the State". Organized by the Center for Media Studies and the UNESCO Chair on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions at Université Laval, it will address the issue of promoting the diversity of cultural expressions in the digital age. This event comes at a time when Québec and Ottawa are undertaking a major review of their cultural policies.

Key players will be invited to speak on four discussion panels, including the Secretary of UNESCO’s 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, Danielle Cliche, who will present the preliminary draft operational guidelines on the implementation of the Convention in the digital environment. Since the adoption of the Convention in 2005, digital technologies have profoundly transformed the way cultural goods and services are created, produced, distributed, disseminated and consumed. This draft will be discussed by the Parties to the Convention at the 10th Ordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Committee, to be held from 12 to 15 December 2016 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

This symposium will be preceded by the official launching event of the new UNESCO Chair on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions at Université Laval on November 17, 2016 at the National Museum of Fine Arts in the presence of Simon Brault, Director of the Canada Council for the Arts and Ms. Christina Cameron, President of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO. Chairholder, Véronique Guèvremont, will present the mandate and future activities of the Chair, including how States and civil society can contribute to the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions on their territory and internationally. Particular attention will also be given in its work to the impact of digital technologies on the implementation of the 2005 Convention.

Panel discussions will focus on the following topics:

1. New practices in cultural consumption in the digital era
2. The issues faced by the industry in the digital context
3. Culture in the digital age and challenges for the State: A Look at Public Opinion
4. The role of the State in the elaboration of cultural policies adapted to the digital environment.