The World Summit on Arts and Culture

43805-12-2022, 07:15

‍The World Summit on Arts and Culture is a global summit of leaders that convenes once every three years to address contemporary issues in the arts and culture sector. The summit was initiated following the success of the World Summit on Information Society in Geneva in 2003 and has been held every subsequent odd-numbered year since 2007. Arts and culture are an important part of society, bringing people together, challenging them, helping them understand one another better, and providing opportunities for self-expression and creation. Cultures unite us as human beings. These shared values transcend borders. They bring us together as a global community with common ambitions, universal aspirations, and collective goals for the future. The World Summit on Arts and Culture is a forum for exchanging ideas among global leaders working in this field. The WSAAC serves as a network for leaders from different fields to come together to identify new opportunities for collaboration where their combined efforts can make a positive impact on society at large through arts and culture. It also acts as a catalyst for new partnerships between public institutions, private companies, non-governmental organizations, universities, colleges and the media related to arts and culture.

Table of contents

Objective of the World Summit on Arts and Culture Agenda for the World Summit on Arts and Culture Summary of outcomes from the World Summit on Arts and Culture 3-year action plan by the WSAAC after their meeting in 2017

Objective of the World Summit on Arts and Culture

The objective of the World Summit on Arts and Culture is to gather global leaders to discuss and identify opportunities in the arts and culture sector, ranging from art and design to music, theatre, literature and performing arts to museums and heritage, media, intellectual property and the creative industries. The summit seeks to break down barriers and foster dialogue to find ways in which leaders of the arts and culture sector can collaborate across disciplines and contribute to solving global challenges. The focus of the first WSAAC was “Connecting Cultures for a Better World: The Role of Arts and Culture in Society”. The second summit was dedicated to “Art and Human Rights: Tackling New Challenges”. The third summit, “The Future of Creativity: New Partnerships for Innovation and Change”, brought together leaders from the field of arts and culture to discuss the role of creativity in the transformation from the industrial age to an information society. The fourth World Summit on Arts and Culture, held in 2017, was titled “Art and Global Citizenship: A Place for Everyone”.

Agenda for the World Summit on Arts and Culture

The agenda for the first WSAAC was based on the following seven key areas: - A stronger role for arts and culture in society: The arts play an important role in our society, bringing people together and helping them to understand one another better. They provide opportunities for self-expression and creation. Culture unites us as human beings and these shared values transcend borders.

- A better understanding of arts and culture: It is important to raise awareness and promote understanding of the importance and value of the arts. They are often misunderstood or undervalued in society.

- New partnerships between the public, private and not-for-profit sectors: Collaboration between the arts and culture sector and other related sectors such as education, media, science and technology, health and civil society is important to address common challenges.

- New solutions for emerging issues: The WSAAC will discuss pressing issues where the arts and culture sector can make a significant impact on society.

- Addressing the future of culture: Cultural heritage is an important aspect of the arts and culture sector. This includes issues such as safeguarding heritage and promoting cultural diversity.

Summary of outcomes from the World Summit on Arts and Culture

The first WSAAC met in Geneva in 2007. The summit explored how arts and culture could play a greater role in society. The summit addressed issues such as strengthening the understanding of the importance of the arts, promoting partnerships between the public and private sectors, and exploring new solutions for emerging issues. It also focused on safeguarding cultural heritage and promoting cultural diversity. The first WSAAC resulted in the creation of an International Arts and Culture Alliance (IACA). The IACA is an international network with the mission to connect artists, cultural institutions and civil society organizations. It also promotes arts and culture as creators of social change and advocates on a global scale for greater recognition of the important role of arts and culture in society.

3-year action plan by the WSAAC after their meeting in 2017

The WSAAC will convene again in 2021. It has adopted a three-year action plan to outline its activities, including organizing an international conference on arts and culture and hosting a series of regional summits between now and 2021. The WSAAC has decided to focus its next summit on the role of arts and culture in fostering global citizenship and building a more inclusive society. The selected theme for the 2021 WSAAC is “Art and Global Citizenship: A Place for Everyone”. It encourages participants to think about ways in which arts and culture can be used to promote positive change and help create a more inclusive society. The WSAAC is also committed to providing a platform for the exchange of ideas, sharing best practices and identifying new opportunities for partnerships, collaboration and joint ventures with other sectors. It also plans to initiate a global dialogue on the future of creativity and the role of arts and culture in a changing society.

Conclusion

The WSAAC serves as a platform for collaboration in the arts and culture sector. It aims to promote dialogue and the exchange of ideas among global leaders. The summit serves as an important mechanism for bringing together artists, cultural institutions, universities and other stakeholders in the arts and culture sector to discuss ways in which they can collaborate to address common challenges.