Dancing people Culture

Diversity of Cultural Expressions

Investing in Creativity.
Transforming Societies.

The time to invest in creativity is now !

Culture and creativity are the heartbeat of our societies, and we need them now more than ever. With so many crises around the world – from climate change to conflict and COVID-19 – people need moments to connect, come together, understand each other, and imagine better futures. Music, art, literature, cinema, dance and many more forms of cultural and creative expressions drive the momentum we need to overcome the challenges we face.

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Statutory Meetings 2005 convention
New Policy Monitoring Platform
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A Thousand Colours: A Celebration of Cultural Diversity

This new UNESCO-Khalili Foundation film "A Thousand Colours" aims to humanize the notion of cultural diversity. Why is cultural diversity important? What are some of the current challenges that undermine it? And what can we do to protect and promote cultural diversity? These are some of the questions addressed by the short film, which gathers testimonies from a number of key global actors including UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors and advocates.

Thousand Colors
UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy
Bangladesh Prize 1

Latest publications

Methodological guide for the participatory development of a law on the status of the artist
UNESCO
2023

A law on the status of the artist can greatly improve the working conditions of cultural professionals. UNESCO and ILO join their expertise to shed light on the importance of elaborating efficient and inclusive regulatory instruments the cultural and creative industries. 

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Empowering creativity: implementing the UNESCO 1980 Recommendation Concerning the Status of the Artist
UNESCO
2023

Artists are the driving force behind creativity, fostering a sense of belonging and economic values. The UNESCO 1980 Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist has contributed to better responding to their specific needs. The fifth global consultation on the implementation of the Recommendation demonstrates the ongoing actions of UNESCO to protect the status of artists.

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The African Fashion Sector: Trends, Challenges and opportunities for growth
UNESCO
2023

This publication gives a snapshot of the trends shaping the African fashion sector, the challenges hindering its growth, and its opportunities for growth. As a tool for reflection and action, it is an open invitation to African policymakers and fashion sector professionals to come together for further dialogue and for reinforced and concerted action in favour of the fashion sector. 

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Defending creative voices: artists in emergencies, learning from the safety of journalists
Soraide, Rosario
UNESCO
2023
Publication supported by the UNESCO-Aschberg programme for artists and cultural professionals and by the UNESCO Multi-Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression and Safety of journalists.
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Key data

timeline
3.1 %
of global gross domestic product (GDP) stems from CCIs
topic
US$389.1 bn
generated by the export of cultural goods and services

in 2019 (a twofold increase since 2015)

mic
50 million jobs
are created by CCIs worldwide

or 6.2% of all employment worldwide

people
48.1%
of workers are women

in the cultural and entertainment sector