Join UNESCO's global movement - ResiliArt
A global effort to support artists and ensure access to culture for all.
The health crisis brought on by the novel coronavirus has plunged the global economy into a recession. While billions of people around the world turn to culture as a source of comfort and connection, the impact of COVID-19 has not spared the creative sector. Artists across the world, most of whom were already working part-time, on an informal basis or under precarious contracts prior to the pandemic, are struggling to make ends meet. Today, we are experiencing a cultural emergency. This is why UNESCO launched ResiliArt, a global movement joined by cultural professionals worldwide that sheds light on the current state of creative industries through virtual discussions. The devastation brought to the entire culture value chain will have a long-lasting impact on the creative economy; ResiliArt aims to ensure the continuity of conversations, data sharing, and advocacy efforts long after the pandemic subsides. Cultural industry professionals are encouraged to join the movement and replicate the ResiliArt debate sessions in their respective regions and thematic focus by following publicly available guidelines.
270
ResiliArt debates completed110
Countries with ongoing ResiliArt movementsDiscover recorded debates
ResiliArt Building Back Better through the Creative Economy
On 4 February 2021, the ResiliArt debate Celebrating International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development, Building Back Better through the Creative Economy was introduced by Ernesto Ottone R., UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, and moderated by France 24 journalist Valériane Gauthier. Panelists included Jean-Michel Jarre (musician and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador), Adberrahmane Sissako (film director), Thomas Steffens (CEO of Primephonic), Vanja Kaludjercic (Director, International Film Festival Rotterdam), Victoria Contreras (founder and General Director of the Association Conecta Cultura de México) and Alvaro Osmar Narvaez (Secretary of Culture, City of Medeliln, Colombia, UNESCO Creative City of Music).
ResiliArt Debate: Celebrating 15 years of Diversity and Creativity
The special edition of ResiliArt of October 21st was hosted in the context of the 10th anniversary of the International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD), the 15th anniversary of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005 Convention) and the 40th anniversary of the UNESCO Recommendation Concerning the Status of the Artist (1980 Recommendation). This high-level panel discussion brought together artists and cultural professionals from around the world to discuss the past and future of creativity as a pillar of UNESCO’s work and featured testimonials from the specialists whose relentless efforts brought about the entry into force of the 2005 Convention. Introduced by Ernesto Ottone R., UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, the debate was opened by Mr Park YANG-WOO, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea and Chairperson of the 14th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, and moderated by France 24 journalist Valériane GAUTHIER. Panelists included Didier AWADI (Rapper and musician), Nabil AYOUCH (Television and film director, producer and writer), Shirley CAMPBELL (Writer and poet), Ferne DOWNEY (Actress and President of the International Federation of Actors), and Deeyah KHAN (Musician, documentary film director and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador). Testimonials featured Nina OBULJEN-KORŽINEK (Minister of Culture of Croatia), Pascal LAMY (political consultant and former Director-General of the World Trade Organisation), Vera EL KHOURY LACOEUILHE (deputy permanent delegate of Saint Lucia to UNESCO), Pascal ROGARD (Director General of SACD and President of the French Coalition for Cultural Diversity) and Katarina STENOU (Expert and Former Director of the Division of Cultural Policies and Intercultural Dialogue at UNESCO).
Resiliart Lebanon Debate: Built Heritage
24 September 2020 - Third Debate
The third and last ResiliArt Lebanon debate on 24 September brought together experts and actors in the field of built heritage to discuss the impact of the 4 August blast on the architectural and urban heritage of Beirut, and the way forward towards a comprehensive approach to urban recovery that integrates cultural heritage protection and people-centred policies. Following an introduction by Ernesto Ottone R., UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, the debate was moderated by Mechtild Rössler, Director of UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre, and brought together Ambassador Sahar Baassiri (Permanent Delegate of Lebanon to UNESCO), Sarkis Khoury (Director General of Antiquities of Lebanon), Fadlallah Dagher (Architect, Member of the Beirut Heritage Initiative), Mona Fawaz (Professor of Urban Studies and Planning, American University of Beirut), Yasmine Makaroun Bou Assaf (Director, Centre of Restoration and Conservation of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Architecture, Lebanese University and member of the Executive Board of ICOMOS Lebanon), Catherine Otayek (volunteer member of the NGO "OffreJoie" since 2009), Mousbah Rajab (Former Head of the Department of Urban Planning of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Architecture, Lebanese University), and Jad Tabet (President the Order of Engineers and Architects of Beirut, expert of the World Heritage Committee, 2013-2017).
ResiliArt Lebanon: Museums and Art Galleries for the Return of Cultural Life in Beirut
17 September 2020 - Second Debate
The second session of ResiliArt Lebanon took place on 17 September 2020 and brought together representatives of Beirut museums and art galleries affected by the explosions, in order to better understand the multiple consequences of the destructions on Beirut’s cultural life, as well as the actions that could be carried out to address them. The debate was moderated by Mr Lazare Eloundou, Director for Culture and Emergencies at UNESCO, and opened by Mr Ernesto Ottone R. UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, and H. E. Ms Sahar Baassiri, Ambassador of Lebanon to UNESCO. It gathered seven panelists: Ms Anne-Marie Afeiche (Director of the National Museum of Beirut and Director General of the General Council of Museums Lebanon), Ms Zeina Arida (Director of the Sursock Museum), Ms Suzy Hakimian (President of the National Committee of ICOM Lebanon), Ms Joumana Asseily (Marfa' Gallery), Ms Naila Kettaneh Kunigk (Tanit Gallery), Mr Saleh Barakat (Saleh Barakat Gallery) and Ms Andrée Sfeir Semler (Semler Sfeir Gallery).
ResiliArt Lebanon: Defending cultural diversity through creativity
10 September 2020 - First Debate
The first session of ResiliArt Lebanon on 10 September 2020 convened prominent Lebanese artists from Lebanon and the Lebanese diaspora to discuss the emergency situation in Beirut following the explosions on 4 August. The debate was moderated by Ernesto Ottone R, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Culture, with the participation of Ziad Doueri (filmmaker), Omar Abiazar (director of the Zoukak theatre collective), Karen Chekerdjian (designer), Nadine Touma (editor), Nadine Labaki (film director), Khaled Mouzanar (musician, composer) and Maya de Freige (President of the Fondation Liban Cinema).
Read the Article
ResiliArt Middle East Mediterranean Summer Summit
10 September 2020
The “The challenging issues and opportunities of art and culture for Middle East Mediterranean region" explored the challenges and opportunities faced by art and culture in the Middle East Mediterranean region. All the panelists underline that art and culture are human needs, soft power instruments, as well as resilient and inclusive sectors that could promote a paradigm change, especially in times of crisis. They also highlight the crossline and overlap between art, culture and politics. Art and culture represent also an open window to unofficial history and to alternative narratives. The panelists included Ahmed Mater (Artist), Rachid Koraïchi (Artist), and Lazare Eloundou Assomo (Director of Culture and Emergencies, UNESCO).
Artists and Creativity beyond Crisis
15 April 2020 - First Debate
The inaugural debate took place on 15 April 2020, World Art Day, in partnership with CISAC. It was opened by Audrey AZOULAY, UNESCO Director-General, who launched the ResiliArt discussions with Ernesto OTTONE R. (UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture), Jean Michel JARRE (Composer, performer, CISAC President and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador), Yasmina KHADRA (Author), Deeyah KHAN (Musician, documentary film director and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador), Angélique KIDJO (Singer-songwriter, CISAC Vice-President and UNICEF International Ambassador), Nina OBULJEN-KORŽINEK (Minister of Culture of Croatia and violinist) and Luis PUENZO (Film director, screenwriter, producer and President of INCAA).
Read the Article
The Road to Recovery
14 May 2020 - Second Debate
The debate took place on 14 May 2020, in partnership with International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD) and International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC). It was moderated by Ernesto OTTONE R. (UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture) and brought together Anitta (Singer singer, songwriter and actress), Mohamed Saif AL-AFKHAM (President of the International Theatre Institute) Ferne DOWNEY (Actress and President of the International Federation of Actors) Pascal ROGARD (Director General of SACD and President of the French Coalition for Cultural Diversity) Fouzia SAEED (Author and Director General of Pakistan National Council of Arts), Cheick Oumar SISSOKO (Film director, Secretary General of the Panfrican Federation of Filmmakers and former Minister of Culture) and Jana VOZAROVA (CEO of LITA, Society of authors).
Read the Article
ResiliArt #DontGoViral
25 May 2020 - Fighting the infodemic through culture
On 25 May, as part of the celebration of Africa Day, and in partnership with France 24 and the Innovation for Policy Foundation, UNESCO hosted a special edition of ResiliArt with focus on the #DontGoViral Campaign. The debate featured Youssou N’Dour (Senegal), Neila Tazi (Morocco), Danny Lee (Niger), Siti Amina (Zanzibar, Tanzania), Kareytse Fotso (Cameroun), and Zolani Mahola (South Africa), with surprise special guests, and focused on the role of artists in fighting disinformation and misinformation and the pandemic’s impact on cultural industries. It was moderated by the journalist Valériane Gauthier of France 24, and was followed by a concert in confinement featuring prominent African artists including Bobi Wine and Spice Diana (Uganda), Oumou Sangare (Mali), Les Freres Smith and Seun Kuti (Nigeria), Youssou N’dour, Didier Awadi, and Sahad Sarr (Senegal), Mr. Leo (Cameroun), DJ Kedjevara and Revolution Groupe (Cote d’Ivoire), Djanny Pacha (DRC), Fafa Ruffino (Benin), Siti Amina (Zanzibar, Tanzania), Pam Luster (Burkina Faso), Danny Lee (Niger) and Marcus Miller (USA), among others.
Read the Article
Music and Film: Rebuilding Better Through Coronavirus and Beyond’
21 July 2020
This special ResiliArt dialogue, organized by the UN Chamber Music Society of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council (UNCMS), in partnership with UN75 and UNESCO, was moderated by Ernesto Ottone R, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Culture. The panel featured Sean Flahaven, Chief Theatricals Executive of Concord; Emellie O’Brien, Founder & CEO of Earth Angel; Joseph Bartning, Executive Director of the Salzburg Festival Society; and Rose H. Schwartz, partner at entertainment law firm Franklin, Weinrib, Rudell & Vassallo, P.C. The discussion explored the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the music and film industries, and what can be done to protect creators and artists.
Cultural industry professionals are encouraged to join the movement and replicate the ResiliArt series in their respective regions and thematic focus by following publicly available guidelines. The devastation brought to the entire culture value chain will have a long-lasting impact on the creative economy; ResiliArt aims to ensure the continuity of conversations, data sharing, and advocacy efforts long after the pandemic subsides.
People need culture.
Culture makes us resilient and gives us hope.
It reminds us that we are not alone.
ResiliArt message from artists
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed and magnified the creative industries’ pre-existing volatility. To see what measures are being adopted by governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to support artists and cultural professionals during these challenging times, click here
For any questions or inquiries about the Resiliart movement,
please contact UNESCO at resiliart@unesco.org
For further information on CISAC contact
communications@cisac.org or visit www.cisac.org
In Partnership with
Media Partners
