Cultural goods and services: commodities of a unique kind
read more...In the face of present-day economic and technological change, opening up vast prospects for creation and innovation,
particular attention must be paid to the diversity of the supply of creative work, to due recognition of the rights of authors and artists and to the specificity of cultural goods and services which, as vectors of identity, values and meaning, must not be treated as mere commodities or consumer goods.
1. The Intergovernmental Conference on Cultural Policies for Development, held at Stockholm (30 March-2 April 1998),
7. Considering that one of the functions of cultural policies is to ensure sufficient scope for the flourishing of creative capacities;
8. Having regard to the ever more rapid processes of socio-economic, technological and cultural change, and the growing disparities at the national and international level, as well as the importance of respecting copyright and intellectual property in view of the risks and challenges arising from the promotion of cultural industries and trade in cultural products;
Recognizes the following principles:
6. Cultural creativity is the source of human progress; and cultural diversity, being a treasure of humankind, is an essential factor of development.
10. Creativity in societies favours creation, which stems above all from an individual commitment. This commitment is essential to building our future heritage. It is important to preserve and promote the conditions for such creation – in particular the freedom of the creative artist - within every community.
The Conference in consequence affirms that:
5. Cultural policies should promote creativity in all its forms, facilitating access to cultural practices and experiences for all citizens regardless of nationality, race, sex, age, physical or mental disability, enrich the sense of cultural identity and belonging of every individual and community and sustain them in their search for dignified and safe future.
Policy Objectives Recommended to Member States
On the basis of the preceding principles, the Conference recommends that States adopt the following five policy objectives:
Objective 3: Reinforce policy and practice to safeguard and enhance the cultural heritage, tangible and intangible, moveable and immoveable, and to promote cultural industries
10. Give priority to the creation of a network at the national, regional and international level involving artists and administrators of projects and cultural amenities in order to improve access to culture in both quantitative and qualitative terms.
11. Assist artists, designers and craftspeople by clarifying, safeguarding and improving the rights of creators and consolidate these rights in relation to the market, both locally and worldwide, by preventing commercial abuses.
12. Promote the idea that cultural goods and services should be fully recognized and treated as being not like other forms of merchandise.