On next 11 February 2022, UCLG Committee on Culture together with UCLG-Africa and Culture et Développement will organise a webinar on 'Culture and the SDGs in Africa: Strategies and Realisations'.

The webinar will aim at discussing the role of culture in sustainable development and the implementation of global agendas on development in Africa, providing local examples from Africa and elsewhere of the effective implementation of culture towards the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Among others, it will present the African Capital of Culture initiative as a valuable contribution to building stronger ecosystems across the African continent, and will introduce specific useful tools aiming at enhancing local cultural policies for sustainable development. 

The webinar will be available in English (14.00-16.00h CET) and French (10.00-12.00h CET). The Agenda of the webinar can be found here. The webinar is limited to 20 participants. Don't wait to register!

40 years after the first Global Conference on Cultural Policies, held in Mexico City in 1982, UNESCO will organize the Mondiacult 2022 Global Conference on Cultural Policies on 28-30 September 2022.

In this framework, and in order to prepare for this event, UNESCO is organizing a series of regional consultations from December 2021 to February 2022. The process is expected to be inclusive, participatory, priority-focused and strategic in terms of vision and ambitions. In this context, UCLG is involved in these consultations:

• EUROPE & NORTH AMERICA.
  13 December 2021.
  Participant: Jordi Pascual, Coordinator of the UCLG Committee on Culture.
• ASIA & THE PACIFIC.
  11-12 January 2022.
  Participant: Bernadia Tjandradewi, Secretary General of UCLG-ASPAC.
• AFRICA.
  31 January - 1 February 2022.
  Expected participant: Mustapha Moufid, Director of the Culture, Migration, Peace and Security Department of UCLG Africa.
• ARAB STATES.
  9-10 February 2022.
  Expected participant: TBC
• LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN.
  14-15 February 2022.
  Expected participant: TBC

To know more on the consultations, please visit the Mondiacult webpage here.

From 14 to 30 December 2021, the city of Yopougon organised a cycle of conferences around the thematic of 'Cultural and creative districts in Africa', including a conference on 'Cultural and creative districts in Africa and the experience of Andokoi' on 21 December 2021, from 10.00 to 12.00 CET.

Click here for more information.

The Award Ceremony of the 4th edition of the International Award UCLG - Mexico City - Culture 21 will be organised on next 17 November 2021 from 14h10 to 14h40 CET in the context of UCLG World Council 2021.

The 4th edition of the UCLG Culture Summit was held on last 9-11 September 2021 in the city of Izmir, Turkey.

During three days, cities, local and regional governments, academics and experts, cultural actors and sectors, international organisations and global cultural networks have met physically and online to discuss the role of culture in shaping the future of Humanity.

Check out the main highlights of the Summit and read the detailed article.

Join and view Climate Friday webinars. These free weekly webinars, hosted by Historic England’s Environmental Strategy team in collaboration with the Climate Heritage Network, provide delegates with an in-depth look at a range of topics related to climate change and cultural heritage presented by international experts in heritage and climate change research, policy and practice.

More information here.

The CAMOC 2021 Barcelona annual conference, entitled "Connecting Cities, Connecting Citizens. Towards a Shared Sustainability" will be organised on next 1-3 December 2021. 

Technological change, accelerated by the pandemic, and the current social and political uncertainty further emphasize the importance of cities and the urban network in the global future. In this context, the reinvention of city museums can play a key role in building a democratic world with more social justice and respect for the planet. For this reason, the CAMOC 2021 meeting in Barcelona aims to deepen the role that city museums can play as strategic institutions of urban, social and cultural cohesion that make it possible to connect cities and citizenship in favor of a shared sustainability as a common social and democratic project and, also, as knowledge centers and polarities for urban development.

CAMOC and MUHBA (Barcelona History Museum) propose three days of shared work to reflect on the main areas of a new urban museology for the 21st century, to move from the “city museum” to the “citizens’ museum”, with solid foundations based on research in the fields of urban history, heritage management and citizen participation. The program is organized in three sessions, which will revolve around three concepts: museum work, reporting the city, and enhancing citizenship, plus a workshop on city museums in fast-growing metropolises.

In this context, you can submit your proposals until September 25. Check out the call for papers and the provisional conference program at the following link:​ Call for papers and preliminary programme

IFLA and partners organise a side-event entitled 'Partnering through Culture, Heritage and Art for Resilient and Inclusive Recovery' at the HLPF 2021 on next 7 July. This event follows on from the High-Level Event organized by the President of the UNGA on 21 May, 2021, and the #Culture2030Goal side event at HLPF 2020.

The session will look at how partnerships with the culture sector can accelerate sustainable development in the Decade of Action, while supporting the cultural life of our communities, and safeguarding our heritage for future generations. What partnership models are possible? How can unique strengths be combined? What lessons can be shared? The session will bring together representatives of local and national governments, civil society and experts, each with experiences that can help build a global sense of how partnering through culture can power resilient and inclusive recovery.

More info available at https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?page=view&type=20000&nr=...

Registrations here.

See the programme here:

The Politecnico di Milano organised on 8 July 2021 (11:00-15:30 CEST) the webinar "Mega-events in Heritage-rich Cities. From research to principles and policy recommendations".

Mega-events have been changing their relationship with the city, now more commonly using existing infrastructures and facilities. In Europe and other parts of the world, this may put historic city centres and broader heritage assets under stress. How can cities rich in culture host mega-events without putting their own heritage at risk? How can mega-events become effective ways to promote and protect tangible and intangible heritage?

The webinar introduced and launched the “Charter for Mega-events in Heritage-rich Cities” that responds to these questions. The Charter derives from the HOMEE research project that investigated case studies across Europe and involved organizations, experts and professionals in the field. It provides principles and policy recommendations for decision makers and event organisers to avoid typical pitfalls while cooperating with the heritage sector.

Find the list of speakers here.

More info at https://www.eventi.polimi.it/events/mega-events-in-heritage-rich-cities-...

The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to education, Ms. Koumba Boly Barry, just published a new report of the on the cultural dimensions of the right to education or the right to education as a cultural right. The report is available in all UN languages.

Please find it here: OHCHR | The cultural dimensions of the right to education or the right to education as a cultural right. A friendly version of the report will soon be available in English, French and Spanish.

The report was officially presented during the 47th session of the Human Rights Council on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 June 2021 in the morning and direct live on UN Web TV.

More information: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Education/SREducation/Pages/CulturalDime...