In 2019 at the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, 2021 was declared the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development. Indonesia was the main sponsor of the proposal, which was presented by a global grouping of countries, including Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Philippines and Thailand.
The proposal recognised the need to promote sustained and inclusive economic growth, foster innovation and provide opportunities, benefits and empowerment for all and respect for all human rights.
It also identified the ongoing need to support developing countries and countries with economies in transition in diversifying production and exports, including in new sustainable growth areas, including creative industries.
It encourages all to observe the year in accordance with national priorities to raise awareness, promote cooperation and networking, encourage sharing best practices and experiences, enhance human resource capacity, promote an enabling environment at all levels as well as tackle the challenges of the creative economy.
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Events held by UNCTAD and Partners during the 2021 International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development
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[Last updated 09/12/2021]
Date
Activities
Venue
Initiator
Beginning of January
On-line
UNCTAD
19 January
Book Launch: Creativity, Culture and Capital: Impact investing in the global creative economy
On-line
Fundación Compromiso, Nesta, and Upstart Co-Lab in partnership with UNCTAD
25 January
Online
UNCTAD in partnership with the Permanent Missions of the Republic of Indonesia and of the Sultanate of Oman.
1 February
Online
UNESCO with the participation of UNCTAD and other agencies
18 February
Special Reform Legislation Discussion Webinar: Philippines Creative Industries Bill
Online
American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines in collaboration with UNCTAD
8-10 March 2021
Online
United Arab Emirates (UAE) in partnership with UNCTAD, the Economist, Google, the UK Royal Academy of Arts, the Guggenheim Museum, UNESCO, the British Council, and Louvre Abu Dhabi
15-21 March
Online
UNCTAD and the Centre for Sustainable Design, University of Creative Arts, Surrey (UK)
31st March
Online
Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD), UNCTAD,
29 April
Online
International Center of Creativity and Sustainable Development
20 May
Contribution to the celebration of the United Nations World Bee Day.
Video: Creativity for Sustainability by Artist Tomás Gabzdi Libertiny
Online
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia in cooperation with UNCTAD
21 May
PGA High-level Event on Culture and Sustainable Development - Building back better: towards a more resilient and impactful culture sector, throughout COVID-19 and the Decade of Action
Online
UN President of the General Assembly Office in cooperation with UNESCO and UNCTAD
26 May
Bergen International Summit 2021: The Power of Art and Culture in Transformation
Online
City of Bergen, Norway in collaboration with UNCTAD
26 May
Insta live with Young People: Celebrating the year of Creative Economy and What it means to young people
Online
Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the UN, WTO and other international organizations and UNCTAD
26-28 May
Africa Dialogue Series OSAA - Cultural identity and ownership: reshaping mindsets
Online
OSAA, African Union, UNESCO, UNCTAD
26 May
Connecting Creatives to Capital in the UN Year of Creative Economy
Online
MIPAD, UNCTAD
17 June
Online
Délégation Générale Wallonie-Bruxelles à Genève in partnership with UNCTAD and UNESCO
2-5 June
Saint Petersburg/
Online
SPIEF, Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
7-9 June
Online
YMCA, UN, The Aspen Institute, Global Shapers Community; University of San Francisco
17- June
Fashion Futures Live: Moving Towards Sustainability, Diversity and Innovation
Saudi Arabia’s Fashion Commission in collaboration with UNCTAD
9-11 July
Online
Republic of Indonesia and UN
27 July
Creative Economy and IP: Supporting Creative Businesses and MSMEs
Hybrid
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, Ministry of Economy of the UAE, WIPO and UNCTAD
July - August
Training Workshops, Webinar on Creative Industries and small and medium enterprises.
Online
Asociación Latinoamericana de Integración (ALADI) / Latin American Integration Association in collaboration with UNCTAD and other International Organizations
26-29 August
Online
Russian Federation
7 September
Online
United Nations Environment Group, United Nations Alliance for Sustainable Fashion.
8-11 September
Great World Forum of Arts, Culture, Creativity and Technology (G-FACCT)
Bogota, Colombia
Ministry of Culture, Colombia in collaboration with the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC)
8 September
International Year of Creative Economy: Reactivation and Modernization in the post-pandemic.
Online
Ministry of Culture, SEGIB, UNCTAD
9-11 September
Online
United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), Metropolitan Municipality of Izmir, Turkey
12 -15 September
Future Unlocked! Cultural and Creative Sectors as Agents of Change
Online
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia in collaboration with UNCTAD
21 September
Online
Beijing Municipal Government, World Trade Point Federation and UNCTAD
23 September 2021
UNCTAD 15 International Dialogue on Digital Transformation and Creative Industries: Create, Innovate, Recover: digitalizing creative industries for a sustainable recovery in Africa
UNIDO, Sound Diplomacy and UNCTAD
29 September
Online
UNCTAD and Barbados as host Country of U15
1-4 October
Online
MIPAD and UNCTAD
3 October
Amplifying Global Black Narratives– A Global African Family Reunion
Online
MIPAD and UNCTAD
28 October
Online
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia and UNCTAD
3 November
Thematic Workshop of the UNESCO Inter-Agency Platform on Culture for Reduced Inequalities
Hybrid
UNESCO and UN agencies including UNCTAD
25-26 November
Aguascalientes, Mexico
UNESCO Mexico in collaboration with UNCTAD
27 November-2 December
Luanda, Angola
UNESCO in collaboration with UN Agencies
7-9 December
Dubai / Online
United Arab Emirates in cooperation with Indonesia, UNCTAD and the Friends of Creative Economy.
18 December
Moscow/Russian Federation
Roskulttsentr with the support of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation
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Events held by Civil Society during the the 2021 International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development
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Voices for Culture campaign
#Voices4Culture
On 21 May, the Office of the President of the General Assembly (PGA) in collaboration with UNESCO and UNCTAD will host a High-Level Event on Culture and Sustainable Development. The event marks World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.
This year in particular, as creative industries cope with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the voices and experiences of those impacted, are more important than ever.
That is why, we are calling YOU, cultural practitioners, and artists from all around the world to get involved! We want to hear YOUR voice.
We’re seeking partners and platforms that will support the delivery of the messages, globally and at the UN High-Level event.
We’re requesting that YOU record a short video (15-30 seconds) using the hashtag #Voices4Culture and give a single reason for why YOU matter to the cultural sector?
When: Send us or post your video by 17 May 2021 and follow the LIVE event on 21 May 2021 via http://webtv.un.org/
Find out more below:
- Who?
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This high-level event is yours! If:
YOU are an artist or member of the creative community
YOU have a network of creatives and artists
YOU have a platform for arts and culture that can reach out to millions
YOU want to just raise awareness on how COVID-19 has impacted the culture sector
YOU want to show solidarity with artists and cultural practitioners
Then YOU should join our “Voices 4 Culture” campaign and have your voice heard.
- Why?
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We need to humanise the cultural sector and build a groundswell of support for the people who will play a key role in communicating, articulating and facilitating the road to recovery from COVID-19.
Why get involved: This is an opportunity to showcase the faces and voices of the global cultural sector, support diversity, and underscore the value of arts and culture - and the people that produce in these sectors - as a key part of the human experience.
- How?
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Submit your short videos (15-30 sec) to creative.economy@unctad.org and simply share your video on Twitter or social media, using the hashtags #Voices4Culture and #Culture4Development, telling us why YOU matter?
Structure
Hi, my name is __________
I am a / I work in ____________
I matter to the cultural sector because ___________ OR
My work matters because _________ contributes to the creative economy/helps artists/in my country, etc, etc.
I stand with the global creative community.
Guidelines
- 15-30 second Horizontal shot (16:9)
- Make sure there is no background noise. Good sound is key!
- Use the hashtag: #Culture4Development and #Voices4Culture when posting online.
- Send us or post your video by 17 May and follow the LIVE event on 21 May via http://webtv.un.org/
