UNESCO convenes Expert Facility to discuss global strategies for creative sectors
UNESCO convened in Bangkok, Thailand, from 12 to 14 February 2019, the first meeting of the EU/UNESCO Expert Facility, to discuss global strategies to support the emergence of strong and dynamic creative sectors in developing countries.
This Facility, recently renewed for the 2019-2022 period, is comprised of 42 international experts, with recognized expertise in issues related to creative industries, cultural entrepreneurship, cultural policy, cultural statistics and indicators, digital, artistic freedom, media diversity, trade, status of the artist, gender equality and intellectual property rights.
The meeting, opened in the presence of Shigeru Aoyagi, Director of the UNESCO Bangkok Office, Giuseppe Busini, Deputy Head of Mission of the EU Delegation to Thailand, and Danielle Cliche, Chief of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions at UNESCO, served to discuss the implementation of capacity development, policy advice, expertise and peer-to-peer learning support types of interventions related to the enhancement of creative sectors and the implementation of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. A dozen of UNESCO Field Offices from all regions were also participating.
“The 2005 Convention is a key policy instrument to better develop and coordinate policies for creativity, support the artistic community, facilitate the access to the global market of cultural goods and services, and expand opportunities for cooperation”, underlined Mr Aoyagi.
More specifically, experts discussed future avenues for the implementation of a flagship initiative, funded by the European Union, to support the design and implementation of regulatory frameworks to strengthen the cultural and creative industries and promote South-South cooperation (See News and Call for Applications).
“This new partnership between the European Union and UNESCO aligns with the ‘New European Consensus for Development’, adopted in June 2017, and translates the EU’s engagement to boost the cultural and creative industries and support cultural policies for sustainable development”, said Mr Busini.
During the meeting, experts also reviewed methodologies for engaging in participative policy monitoring processes, a key feature of the project “Re|Shaping Cultural Policies for the Promotion of Fundamental Freedoms and the Diversity of Cultural Expressions”, to be implemented in 16 countries over the next years with funding from the government of Sweden.
In the margins of the meeting, a Create|2030 public debate was organized with various cultural professionals and policy officials, including Magdalena Moreno Mujica, Executive Director of the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA) and Savitri Suwansathit, Advisor to the Thai Minister of Culture, to discuss new policy initiatives taken to support diverse creative sectors, the institutional and legal challenges faced, and the emergence of innovative exchange and cooperation platforms in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
“Our strategy aims to support all governments in creating institutional and professional environments favourable to promote the diversity of cultural expressions”, said Mrs Cliche in closing. “Through the Expert facility, we can work together to inform innovative cultural policy making and advance support for the implementation of the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals”, she added.
Read here Events announcement and Press Advisory.