UNESCO-Aschberg programme for artists and cultural professionals

From the name of the Swedish family who bequeathed to UNESCO in 1956 the Château du Bois du Rocher, the Aschberg programme (funded with the interest generated on the sale of this property) has evolved over the years while maintaining its initial purpose of promoting artistic creativity. Initially dedicated to promote the training of artists by awarding scholarships for the study of artists-in-residence, it was re-designed in 2017 to support creative cities as well as the implementation of UNESCO’s two normative instruments addressing artistic creativity: the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the 1980 Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist.

Through the Aschberg programme, UNESCO strives in particular to achieve those goals of the 2005 Convention that are most closely related to artists and creativity: facilitate a balanced flow of cultural goods and services, increase the mobility of artists and cultural professionals, and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms. In line with the 2030 Agenda, the programme’s ambition is to contribute to promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and reducing inequality among countries.

The Aschberg programme combines research, training and technical advice mainly in the field of preferential treatment and artistic freedom. By looking into areas such as trade of cultural goods and services or human rights, the programme provides tools and capacities to foster the emergence and development of environments conducive to creativity, especially in the Global South.