[Workshop]

UNESCO’s Legally-binding Instruments on Culture

1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage Designed to ensure the identification, protection, conservation, presentation and transmission of cultural and natural heritage to future generations, this Convention recognizes the way in which people interact with nature, and the fundamental need to preserve the balance between the two.

2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Safeguards the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and skills that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage. Such heritage may be manifested in domains such as oral traditions and expressions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practice about nature and the universe, and traditional craftsmanship.

2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions A legally-binding international agreement that ensures artists, cultural professionals, practitioners and citizens worldwide can create, produce, disseminate and enjoy a diversity of cultural goods, services and activities, including their own.

The Conventions at a Glance Links… Natural and cultural heritage Intangible cultural heritage and cultural diversity Economic and cultural dimensions of cultural goods, services and activities Link to Development Conservation policies as a means of development Cultural heritage as a mainspring of cultural diversity, an important vector for sustainable development Cultural policies to strengthen cultural industries, create jobs, generate income, alleviate poverty Major Stakeholders Local, regional and national government authorities Communities and individuals maintaining living intangible heritage Public, private and civil society stakeholders in culture, artists, professionals working in the cultural industries Example of Implementation The Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Uganda) are reconstructed The Saké mon collective fishing rite in Ségou, Mali continues to be practiced for generations Caribbean musicians receive greater access to the EU market to distribute their music CDs and perform live.

Towards a Binding Instrument Addressing Diversity

Evolution of the Concept of Cultural Diversity at UNESCO Post World War II: cultural pluralism focusing on inter- national differences Cold War context: cultural diversity as identity s: cultural diversity recognised as a key component of development 2000s: cultural diversity originates not only from the cultural identities of individuals, groups and societies but also results from their creativity that is transmitted through a variety of cultural expressions, diverse modes of artistic creation

Milestones 1995: UNESCO World Commission Report on Culture and Development Our Creative Diversity Argued that diversity is not just tied to individual or group differences but can be a source of creativity. Support for new arts forms and expressions is seen as an investment in human development. 1998: Intergovernmental Conference on Cultural Policies for Development, The Power of Culture, held in Stockholm Stockholm Action Plan calls upon governments to promote diversity and the idea that cultural goods and services should be fully recognized and treated as being not like other forms of merchandise. 2001: Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity Called for the defence of cultural diversity as an ethical imperative, inseparable from respect for human dignity, and as a capacity for expression, creation and innovation.

2001 – 2005: Work on International Legally- binding Instrument to Advance Global Commitment to Diversity The international community signalled the urgency for the adoption of an international law recognising: The distinctive nature of cultural goods, services and activities as vehicles of identity, values and meaning That while cultural goods, services and activities have important economic value, they are not mere commodities or consumer goods that can be regarded as objects of trade

The 2005 Convention Adopted Adopted 20 October 2005 Enters into force 18 March 2007 The speed at which this Convention was adopted is considered an extraordinary achievement and signals the urgency and commitment for action from governments around the world As of June 2010, 112 Parties Beginning of the implementation phase Road map for implementation is nearing completion Over 170 project proposals were submitted to the International Fund for Cultural Diversity and are now under review

The 2005 Convention

What A legally-binding international agreement that ensures artists, cultural professionals, practitioners and citizens worldwide can create, produce, disseminate and enjoy a diversity of cultural goods, services and activities, including their own.

What do We Mean by… Cultural diversity : the many ways in which the cultures of groups and societies find expression Cultural expressions : result from the creativity of individuals, groups and societies and have cultural content. Cultural expressions are conveyed through cultural goods, services or activities (e.g. CDs, books, films, theatre and dance performances) irrespective of the commercial value they may have Cultural content : refers to the symbolic meaning, artistic dimension and values that originate from or express cultural identities Cultural industries : produce and distribute cultural goods or services Cultural policies : whether at the national, regional or local level, policies that have an effect on the creation, production, dissemination, distribution of and access to cultural goods, services and activities

Providing a New International Framework for the Governance of Culture, the Convention… Encourages the introduction of cultural policies and measures that nurture creativity Recognises and optimises the overall contribution of the cultural industries to economic and social development Integrates culture into sustainable development strategies Promotes international cooperation

How Strengthen Cultural Industries Collaborate across sectors Share information Collaborate inter- nationally Create environment for production cycle to function Create & implement cultural policies Integrate culture at all levels of development policies

Who Public sector: national, regional and local governments and public authorities Civil society: non-governmental organisations, foundations, associations Private sector: cultural SMEs, established enterprises, banks, etc. Artists and cultural professionals

Where Everywhere

Ratification

Why Ratify the Convention? Strengthen the presence and contribution of your cultural professionals and industries in your national and the international marketplace Allow your citizens to participate in and consume a diversity of cultural products, services and activities Reaffirm your right to maintain, adopt and implement policies and measures that you deem appropriate for the protection and promotion of your cultural industries on your territory Create jobs, generate income and alleviate poverty by developing your cultural industries

Parties to the Convention by Electoral Groups June 2010

Ratification Strategy What is it? An action plan to raise awareness of the 2005 Convention and increase its number of ratifications The goal: Achieve 15 new ratifications by the end of 2011 and additional ratifications by the end of 2013 Actions: organise awareness raising activities; share experiences; develop new information tools and enrich their content by including examples; translate and widely distribute Convention information kits and other communication tools

Implementation

Operational Guidelines… …serve as a road map for the implementation of the Convention …outline roles and responsibilities of the Convention’s diverse stakeholders …can be revised as often as necessary to reflect new concepts, knowledge or experiences

Ways to Implement the 2005 Convention Parties to introduce policies and measures that facilitate: Institutional, regulatory and financial incentives for the production and distribution of cultural goods, services and activities Opportunities for artists to create, particularly for women, minorities and indigenous peoples Mobility of artists, of cultural activities, goods and services Diversity of content in the media Stakeholder engagement, capacity-building & outreach through: Civil society participation in the design and implementation of cultural policies Enhancing business skills of cultural industries professionals Partnerships between private, public and civil society actors to strengthen local cultural industries

Example of implementation Ensure that individuals and groups (minorities, indigenous populations, etc.) have access to and can participate in the cultural production cycle. Creation Production Dissemination Consumption Exhibition/ Reception/ Transmission Banks facilitate access to finance to manufacture products Citizens participate in and consume diverse cultural products, services and activities Artists create cultural products and services Government authorities implement cultural policies that facilitate distribution of cultural products and services Civil society organisations provide exhibition and convening space, and sensitize general public to the importance of cultural industries

Parties Incorporate culture in sustainable development strategies Introduce cultural policies to strengthen the value chain Engage a diversity of stakeholders in the design and implementation of policies and programmes Support diversity of content in the media Provide support to artists and facilitate the mobility of artists from the developing world Grant preferential treatment to developing countries and facilitate access of their cultural goods and services to the global marketplace Ensure information sharing and transparency Educate the public

Artists and Cultural Professionals Identify your main challenges and needs that can be addressed through the implementation of the Convention Engage in a fruitful dialogue with public institutions and policymakers about these challenges and needs Participate in the development and implementation of a road map Interpret the Convention and participate in the design of campaigns to raise awareness among citizens of the benefits of diversity in their everyday lives

Civil Society Bring new ideas & approaches to cultural policy development Contribute to greater transparency and accountability in decision-making processes Collect, evaluate and share data & information Provide input to Parties’ periodical reports Support opportunities for artists to create Raise awareness

Private Sector Banks & lending institutions Facilitate cultural SMEs’ access to low-interest loans Guarantee funds, offer microcredit Provide technical assistance Cultural SMEs Engage in cross-sector partnerships and build networks Access assistance and cultural exchanges Established cultural enterprises Contribute to the International Fund for Cultural Diversity Help enhance business skills of cultural industries professionals

What Now?

Have you… Reached out to national decision-makers about ratifying the Convention (if it isn’t already ratified in your country)? Organized workshops with relevant civil society organizations to inform them about the Convention? Encouraged public, private civil society actors to collaborate on projects and programmes that strengthen local cultural industries? Started collecting and disseminating data, statistics, information and best practices on cultural industry developments? Been sharing information about the Convention with the public at large and integrating it into your daily programming activities?

What you can do now Coordinate with culture sector professionals in your office and send an to to schedule a time to discuss your cultural industries development strategy and the integration of the

Question & Answer