Culture

Ensuring the diversity of cultural expressions poses a challenge for today’s local, national and international communities.  In order to address this particular dimension of cultural diversity, UNESCO’s Member States adopted the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in 2005.

As the Convention enters into force in 2007, new approaches to cultural expressions in their diverse forms – books, television programmes, music, live performances and many more – should be developed. Along with ensuring the Secretariat of the Convention, UNESCO is currently redesigning its operational projects and elaborating new programmes to contribute to achieving the aims of the Convention.

• Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions
• Global Alliance for Cultural Diversity
  an initiative to strengthen creative industries and enterprises in developing countries
• UNESCO-Aschberg Bursaries for Artists
  programme offering residencies to young artists worldwide
• World Observatory on the Social Status of the Artist
  online database on key social issues for artists 
• Anti-Piracy
  supporting the fight against piracy