UCLG co-organised recently a peer learning experience on the role of cultural institutions in protecting human rights and democratic participation in Barcelona.

From 29 September to 1 October 2026, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), through its Committee on Social Inclusion, Participatory Democracy and Human Rights (CISDPDH) and its Culture Committee, joined Barcelona City Council in organising a three-day Peer Learning Experience in Barcelona with Manchester, Mexico City and São Paulo. Held under the theme “Cultural Institutions as Guarantors of Human Rights in Contexts of Democratic Backsliding,” the exchange explored how local governments and cultural institutions can contribute to protecting human rights, strengthening social inclusion and creating meaningful spaces for democratic participation.

The peer learning brought together local government representatives and cultural actors to examine how cities can respond to growing pressures on civic space, freedom of expression and social cohesion. Through institutional exchanges, site visits and a collective workshop, participants explored how cultural spaces can support rights-based local governance, inclusion and participation, while identifying mechanisms that can strengthen the resilience of local institutions and communities.

The experience will contribute to the development of a Survival Toolkit for Cultural Institutions and Local Governments, as well as further UCLG work on cultural autonomy and human rights in challenging democratic contexts.

The results of the peer learning will also contribute to Culture 21 Plus, the UCLG international framework for cultural rights launched by the UCLG Committee on Culture in collaboration with cities and network partners, and to modules currently being developed.

Read the news piece published by the Barcelona City Council, here (in Catalan) and here (in Spanish).

Read the post shared by the Barcelona City Council on LinkedIn here (in Catalan).

Read the news piece published by the UCLG Committee on Social Inclusion, Participatory Democracy and Human rights here.

The Final Report of the peer learning experience will be soon available.

The Mexican Government’s Ministry of Culture, the District Institute of the Arts (Idartes), the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB), the Organisation of Ibero-American States (OEI), the Culture Committe of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and UNESCO are organising the 2nd Ibero-American Meeting on Good Practices in Arts and Culture Management, +Arte, +Cultura, an international forum that will bring together public institutions, multilateral organisations, local governments, indigenous leaders, academia, cultural managers, artists and civil society organisations to strengthen cooperation, the exchange of knowledge and the development of a shared agenda for cultural and artistic management in Ibero-America.

The meeting, which will take place on 26, 27 and 28 October 2026 in Mexico City, aims to consolidate a collaborative network amongst the region’s leading repositories of good practice and to promote the exchange of experiences that have demonstrated their impact at a local level. Over the course of three days, the conference will address contemporary challenges in cultural management, the role of the arts and culture in sustainable development, public innovation, community cohesion, digital transformation and the building of new partnerships to strengthen cultural policies with a local impact.

The Secretariat of Culture, Recreation and Sport of Bogotá and the Organisation of Ibero-American States (OEI) are offering the Ibero-American Diploma Course ‘The Art of Being Well: Culture and Health for Well-being’ (in Spanish).

This diploma course is a 100 per cent free training programme aimed at professionals, managers, creative practitioners and public policy leaders in the culture, health and education sectors across the Ibero-American region.

Participants will learn about:

• Global perspectives and policies on art, culture and health.
• Case studies from Bogotá, Mexico City, Madrid and Argentina.
• Inspiring projects from Brazil, Chile, Medellín and Lima.
• Practical methodologies for designing projects in civic culture, health and wellbeing.

- Diploma course dates: October 2026 to February 2027.
- Enrolment open until 29 September 2026. The registration form is available here.
 

For further information, check out this file and follow this link. 

Some days after the UCLG World Congress in Tangier, the GOLD VII Final Report on the Economies of Equality and Care was launched with the energy of a truly collective moment.

Over three years of shared work, dialogue and co-creation across territories, this process has brought together 50 local and regional governments, researchers, international organizations, and civil society networks from all regions of the world. Together, we have explored what it means to place care at the centre of public action - not as a sector, but as a transformative way of governing.

Through 340 experiences of 200 local and regional governments, GOLD VII shows that care is a cross-sectoral principle of UCLG's political mandate, and it is already happening in cities and regions: through public services, housing, mobility, social protection, climate action, cultural life and democratic innovation. It is a living practice of solidarity, proximity and collective responsibility.

Find the GOLD VII Final report:

• in English.
• in Spanish.
• in French.

Find an easy read version of the GOLD VII Final report in English.

In the context of the 7th edition of the UCLG – Mexico City – Culture 21 International Award, coorganised by the UCLG Culture Committee and Mexico City, the Award Ceremony was held on 8 October 2026 in Mexico City. The event was held alongside a Peer Learning exercise on cultural rights, care and gender equality, which took place on 7–8 October and the morning of 9 October.

This significant occasion brought together the Award winners – the cities of Ramallah and São Paulo in the ‘City’ category, and Nancy Duxbury and Amareswar Galla in the ‘Individual’ category – together with cities recognised as Special Mentions and/or good practices, members of the jury, experts and representatives of local governments from around the world.

Participating UCLG members and partners enjoyed three inspiring days of dialogue, learning and celebration.

Please see here the final programme of events.

Pictures of the Peer Learning exercise are available here.

Pictures of the Award Ceremony are available here. 

The resulting peer learning note of the events will be published soon.