Opening of Mondiacult 2025 in Barcelona
The second UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development of the 21st century, following the 2022 event in Mexico, kicked off on Monday in Barcelona. The conference, titled Mondiacult 2025, focuses on peace and artificial intelligence (AI) as transversal themes. The event brings together ministers or representatives from the cultural sector of the 194 UNESCO member states, with the first plenary session chaired by Ernesto Renato Ottone Ramírez, the deputy director for culture at the international organization.
Opening Remarks by Ernesto Renato Ottone Ramírez
Ramírez highlighted the current challenges facing multilateralism amid international tensions and questioning of collective action frameworks. He emphasized the importance of resuming dialogue and international recovery, stressing that culture can serve as a common language.
Ernest Urtasun, Minister of Culture for Spain, Presides the Summit
Ernest Urtasun, Spain’s Minister of Culture, was elected as the president for Mondiacult 2025’s directorate. He represents Group 1, which includes Western Europe and North America.
Ministro de Cultura de España
Urtasun’s Vision for Mondiacult 2025
As president, Urtasun emphasized the need to move beyond principles and take action towards a global goal for culture, ensuring solid policies, appropriate funding, strengthened international cooperation, and protection against crises.
He addressed the multiple challenges in today’s world, including climate change and the impacts of digital revolution and AI. Urtasun stressed that culture is a form of resistance and a common language to rebuild trust among nations.
Key Themes of Mondiacult 2025
- Cultural Rights: Cultural rights as an ethical imperative and a condition for sustainable development.
- Culture in the Digital Age: Leveraging digital technologies in culture and education.
- Integrating Culture into Education: Promoting cultural and artistic education.
- Culture as an Economy: Fostering an inclusive and sustainable cultural ecosystem to drive economic development.
- Cultural Dimensions of Climate Change: Protecting and promoting culture in the face of climate change.
- Cultural Heritage in Crisis: Addressing the trafficking and destruction of cultural assets, safeguarding culture and heritage during crises and emergencies.
Additional Themes for Mondiacult 2025:
- Culture and Artificial Intelligence: Considering its growing impact on cultural access, preservation of heritage, and creativity.
- Culture of Peace: Developing initiatives for a culture of peace, contributing to sustainable economic and social development, human rights, gender equality, democratic participation, dialogue, freedom of information, communication, and expression.
Mondiacult 2022 Declaration:
