Barcelona hosts UNESCO Mondiacult 2025

• More than 160 countries gathered in Barcelona for Mondiacult — UNESCO’s largest World Conference on Cultural Policies — organised in partnership with Spain from from September 29 to October 1.

• The event brought together ministers and cultural leaders from across the world to shape the future of global cultural policy.

• Union Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat participated in the event. 

• During the Plenary Session, which included the adoption of the Rules of Procedure and Agenda along with the election of key office bearers, Shekhawat had the distinction of serving as the Chair for the Asia-Pacific Group.

• The conference discussed trends, challenges and opportunities in the cultural sector and the progress made since the last edition in 2022.

• The closing ceremony saw the adoption of the outcome document, with Member States reaffirming culture as a global public good and adopting the outcome document, which sets the roadmap for strengthening cultural policies and international cultural cooperation.

What is Mondiacult?

• Since 2018, UNESCO has worked to put culture back at the heart of multilateral dialogue, securing its recognition in forums such as the G20, the G7, and the United Nations Pact for the Future. 

• This mobilisation has been accompanied by a strong legal commitment from countries, with nearly 80 new ratifications of the Organization’s Culture Conventions. 

• These reflect a political will to support and strengthen international standards for the protection of heritage, cultural diversity, and the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property.

• Over the past 20 years, UNESCO has helped more than 150 countries develop or improve their cultural policies.

• The UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development (Mondiacult) is a ministerial forum during which 194 Member States of UNESCO work together to set, and commit to, the global agenda for culture.

• A vast majority of countries now incorporate culture into their development policies, while cultural and creative industries currently account for 3.39 per cent of global GDP. 

• However, significant disparities remain. Per capita cultural spending is up to 2,000 times higher in high-income countries than in low-income ones.

• Mondiacult 2022 Conference, held in Mexico City from September 28 to 30, 2022 with 150 Member States, resulted in the adoption of a Ministerial Declaration.

Objectives of Mondiacult:

i) Strengthen multilateral action, collaboration, and solidarity among countries to shape the global cultural agenda.

ii) Report on progress, opportunities and challenges in implementing the six priority areas of the Mondiacult Declaration as well as two focus areas.

iii) Foster inclusive and participatory dialogues on cultural policies with a broad range of stakeholders including young people.

iv) Identify the priorities to be considered in the drafting of a stand-alone goal for culture in the post-2030 development agenda.

v) Support UNESCO Member States in strengthening cultural information systems to improve public policies.

• Saudi Arabia will host Mondiacult 2029.