5th UCLG Cultural Summit

The 5th UCLG Culture Summit was held in Dublin (Ireland) from November 28 to December 1, 2023. More than 100 speakers took the floor to discuss the role, impact and development of culture as an integral part of sustainable cities.

The aim of the UCLG Culture Summit was to sensitize local and regional governments as well as cultural partners and to call for the achievement of the Culture Goals as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Alexandra Xanthaki, UN Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights, said in her speech that “the multiple cultures each state has which must all be included, highlighted and nurtured. When we talk about cultural life, we talk about our ways of living, our understanding of the world. Culture has a transformative effect and it’s time to act. Local governments must be active supporters to ensure cultural rights for all beyond 2030. The Pact for the Future offers guidance on how to put peoples’ values into local culture. Local authorities, you have to shout your positive practices, engage with the national governments to link cultural rights to sustainable development.”

The Summit followed four main lines of action:

- Capacity Building: translating ideas and promoting mutual learning on the role that culture plays in sustainable development at the local level through concrete examples of policies, programs and projects;

- presentation cities’ experience in developing cultural rights;

- content co-creation: promoting a cultural boost in global tables now, discussing the components of a possible dedicated Culture Goal in the UN post-2030 Agenda, and preparing the UN Summit for the Future;

- linking culture with the UCLG Pact for the Future: introducing the draft “Culture 21 PLUS”.

A number of thematic sessions were also held during the Summit: “Cultural, Climate and Eco Transitions”, “Public Spaces, Communities, Trust, Artists”, “Keys to Gender Equality in Cultural Policies”, “Localizing SDGs with Culture”, “Tourism, Creative Industries and Cultural Sustainability” and others.

The Dublin Statement was adopted as a result of the Culture Summit. It recognizes that “Development is only sustainable and human if the cultural dimension is explicit: heritage in all forms, diversity, creativity, education, transmission of knowledge and intercultural dialogue” and concludes by stressing that “Global challenges can only be addressed by dealing with local challenges, and we, local and regional governments, are the holders of this change.”

According to the organizers, the 5^th UCLG Cultural Summit brought together delegates from a total of more than 150 cities around the world.

The photo: Andrei Carina on Unsplash

04.12.2023

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