Recording: Culture for the Goals, the Goals for Culture: the missing pillar in UN Agenda 2030

On Wednesday 9th December 2020 the APPG held an event in partnership with the British Council to discuss the missing aspect of culture in the UN Agenda in 2030. With ten years left to achieve the SDGs in the midst of an ongoing global pandemic we asked what role culture can play towards a sustainable future.

This event included a presentation from the British Council on their recently published report ‘Culture’s contribution to the SDGs’ which explores the value of arts, culture and heritage for quality education, gender equality, sustainable cities and communities, peace, and other global challenges. This event also included a case study discussion on an action research programme taking place in Vietnam, Colombia and Kenya which is exploring ways in which cultural heritage - through taking a people-led and collaborative approach - can bring prosperity and wellbeing to everyday life.

The event was chaired by Theo Clarke MP, Co-Chair, APPG on the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

About the report

In the UN Agenda 2030 there is no specific goal on Culture. It is not formally recognised alongside the three pillars of development — social, economic and environmental.

'The Missing Pillar ' explores the place of culture in the SDGs through research, policy and practice. It analyses where arts and culture as a sector and as a creative process can fit within a number of goals, including their targets and indicators. 11 British Council programmes provide examples of cultural initiatives around the world, tackling a variety of issues and cutting across sectors, such as sustainable fashion, creative inclusion, and cultural heritage protection.

The recommendations from the report advocate for the SDGs to be more accessible to the cultural sector, for them to be embedded in the delivery of cultural initiatives based on local needs, and for their impact to be measured accordingly. The report recommends taking an inclusive approach, involving communities and local actors to understand cross-cutting needs and ecosystems to ensure sustainability. It also calls for a focus on digital technologies to raise awareness and a clearer response to the climate emergency from the cultural sector.

This report is a tool to increase understanding of the link between arts and culture and sustainable development. It is a first step at framing the impact of our British Council programmes alongside the SDGs.

Find out more

Details of the British Council Cultural Heritage for Inclusive Growth programme discussed during the event which explores ways in which local culture can improve the lives of individuals around the world.

Blog: What role is there for cultural relations in the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations Agenda 2030?

Recording

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Event: Culture for the Goals, the Goals for Culture: the missing pillar in UN Agenda 2030