The Tracker Culture & Public Policy

In this second part of a special series counting down to the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development – MONDIACULT 2022, we take a look at how the cultural sector is being transformed by the digital transformation. Whilst there are huge challenges, the digital environment also offers great opportunities for innovation. How public policies for culture should respond to this new landscape will be a major issue to be discussed by Ministers and concerned stakeholders at MONDIACULT 2022, due to take place in Mexico in September.

No country in the world enjoys full gender equality but ensuring greater empowerment in cultural life can open the doors to equality. Cutting Edge explores the dynamics of gender equality in the cultural sector, countries' initiatives and how UNESCO's Culture Conventions can be used to address the gender gap, fostering inclusive sustainable development and reducing disparities.

Regional consultations continued with the Asia and Pacific region, bringing together Ministers of Culture and civil society actors. The UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development - MONDIACULT 2022 will be hosted from 28 to 30 September 2022 by the Government of Mexico. The consultation for Africa is currently taking place and Latin America and the Caribbean and the Arab States’ consultations are to held in the coming weeks.

The United Nations adopts a bold new Resolution on Culture for Sustainable Development, raising the profile of culture's impact for resilience and recovery; the historic inclusion of culture in a G20 Leaders' Declaration, the roll-out of the Culture|2030 Indicators... fresh inspiration has infused the global debate on culture's vital role as the bedrock of sustainable development. But this role remains underexplored.

Social inclusion is at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, yet culture remains under-utilised in fostering social cohesion. Cultural practices, sites and expression convey values and skills, conducive to social inclusion. Access to and participation in cultural life have long been appreciated as crucial elements in enhancing well-being and creating a sense of belonging.

Today’s young people face unprecedented challenges: not only are they more likely to be unemployed, they also have to face some of the greatest challenges ever experienced by humanity. Young people are also the future guardians of our rich, diverse, heritage and dynamos for fresh ideas and creativity. Culture provides multiple responses to this gauntlet of challenges.

One year of travel restrictions, lockdowns, and physical distancing measures have heavily impacted the culture sector. From closures of World Heritage sites and cultural institutions to the disruption of cultural events, COVID-19 has affected the livelihoods of tens of millions of people around the world. The damage to the sector has extended far beyond estimates, and will influence generations to come. 

The tourism industry is a major casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic, which in 2020 propelled a 74% drop in international arrivals and a US$1.3 trillion loss in global tourism revenues. Cultural tourism is one of the largest and fastest-growing segments of the global tourism sector, with four out of ten tourists choosing their destination based on its cultural offer. In an ongoing context of uncertainty, governments around the world are identifying ways to deal with the devastating economic impact of the crisis and support resilient and inclusive recovery strategies for the future.

Climate change is the defining challenge of our time and the role of culture in climate action has long been underestimated and underutilised. The cultural sector is already beginning to feel the negative impact of climate change. Yet, natural and cultural heritage, museums, living heritage, artists and the entire cultural sector represent an untapped wellspring of potential to enhance global action.

Digital technologies are shaping culture and how we relate to culture. From 3D satellite imagery of World Heritage sites to virtual reality museums to digital arts, they are having an impact on the cultural sector. This month's Tracker focuses on the consequences of these technologies across all areas of cultural policy, including for the UNESCO 2005 Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this month...