28 February 2022 | 16.00-18.00h CET
The role of culture as a driver of sustainable development has been championed by the recognised, not least in the mandate of the UNESCO MONDIACULT+40 conference.
However, the failure to highlight culture as a headline policy goal, alongside the other 17 areas identified as the Sustainable Development Goals, has left it vulnerable to being forgotten or sidelined. While many governments, in particular at the local level, have nonetheless understood the potential of placing culture at the heart,
and at the start of sustainable development policymaking, it lags behind the other pillars of sustainable development (social, economic and environmental).
As it is clear that any future development paradigm cannot simply settle for business as usual, we must already look ahead to how to make our economic and social models more respectful of people, and of the planet. In particular, we need in particular to focus more strongly on fundamental rights and freedoms, including cultural rights, both as a basis for making development a reality for everyone, but also as a precondition for a stronger and renewed social contract. Culture has an essential role to play, from inspiring new thinking, building new connections, and enhancing human capital, to enabling inclusion and understanding. In parallel, we need to work within cultural policy to maximise sustainability and impact.
What then could a culture goal in a post-2030 development framework look like? Join the event to share your ideas!
