The Bigger Picture:
how local cultural development fits into
an international context
Castlemaine March 2008
The Cultural Development
Network is a small non-profit
organisation that generates
new ideas and new
connections for
governments, communities
and individual practitioners
around issues of cultural
vitality.
Inaugural meeting,
South-west region
Cultural Development Network,
Port Fairy, July 2007
CDN works towards a society in
which local communities, in all
their diversity, have the resources
and support they need to make
and express their own culture.
We advocate a stronger role for local
government in nurturing cultural
vitality and see the arts (at the
heart of culture) as central to this
vision.
www.culturaldevelopment.net.au
Small Towns Big Picture project,
Wedderburn
Four Pillars of
Sustainability
Economic viability
Social inclusion
Environmental
responsibility
Cultural vitality
Jon Hawkes, 2001
Networking:
Information exchange
E-newsletters
Artists Talks
Regional networks
Participants, ‘Arts Health and Community’ ‘forum,
Horsham, August 2006
Corridor One 4:
Corridor One 4
celebrating arts,
culture and
people in the
north
(Geelong region)
Co-ordinator, health worker Dale Newman at From The Teacup,
Community Voice conference Geelong 2006
Public Programs
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Advocating for arts and
cultural development
Presentations and workshops at
Community Voice conference,
Geelong 2006
Artist Julie Tipene O’Toole’s
exhibition
‘From the Tea Cup’
‘a celebration of the
age old ritual of
sharing stories over a cup of tea’,
Expanding Cultures: arts and local
government conference, July 2007
Initiated by the Inner
Metropolitan Arts and Culture
Managers' Group, involving
eight Melbourne inner city of
councils: Stonnington, Yarra,
Melbourne, Moreland,
Maribyrnong, Moonee Valley,
Boroondara and Port Phillip.
The conference themes were identified as being the most
significant issues for the eight host councils, in the area of arts and
culture, especially focussing on the contribution of arts and cultural
development to the strength and well-being of local communities.
Expanding Cultures:
Conference themes
- the changing shape of
community cultures and their
impact on local government in
Victoria, Australia and overseas
– arts as a vehicle for
strengthening communities and
facilitating social inclusion
– the impact of arts activities on
health, education and
economic development
– local government’s
engagement with Indigenous
art and culture
– improving evaluation of arts
activities and cultural
development programs
– innovative partnerships
Projects:
Generations Building civic engagement through the arts in five
communities across Australia
Three year project: 2006-2009 Five councils in three states
Dalrymple Shire (Qld); Liverpool (NSW); Rural City of Wangaratta; Greater
Geelong and Latrobe City (Victoria).
Issues addressed: ‘A major issue in the municipalities that if not addressed,
would have an ongoing negative impact on the local community’. These
include the challenges of an aging population, relationships between
traditional landowners and pastoralists, environmental sustainability and
young people’s disengagement with school. Still Life!, Wangaratta
Generations project background
‘Generations’ is a test of the belief
that sustainable communities not
only need a viable economy, a
healthy environment and good
social policies, the ‘triple-bottomline’ model, but a fourth
dimension, or pillar, of cultural
vitality.
The 'Generations' project will build
on current research and
knowledge gathered to
demonstrate that cultural vitality
is a critical aspect of community
sustainability
Connecting through
Three Generations of Time,
Dalrymple Shire, Queensland
Advocacy
CALL FOR PAPERS: e-journal of the UNESCO Observatory
on Multi-disciplinary Research in the Arts
Volume 1, Issue 2: ’Creative Local Communities: Cultural Vitality and Human Rights’
Guest editors: John Smithies, Director and Kim Dunphy, Manager, of the Cultural Development Network,
Call for Papers closes on Monday March 31, 2008.
Topic: The editors welcome articles that examine the way policy and practice can impact the cultural vitality of local communities.
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Papers are invited on topics including:
•
pro-active planning for creative communities
•
the relationship between creativity and cultural expression on health and well being, and the ability of local communities to keep pace with change
•
the significance of freedom of expression and cultural rights, as an aspect of a broader human rights agenda.
•
impact of the framework that includes cultural vitality as a necessary ingredient for the sustainability of local communities alongside economic, social and
environmental concerns.
Researchers and practitioners from the areas of cultural policy, cultural development, community-based arts, government and civil society, cultural diversity,
cultural rights and are invited to submit proposals. Articles, essays and review formats are invited.
For further information: www.abp.unimelb.edu.au/unesco/ejournal/vol-one-issue-two.html
Background:
This issue takes its title and motivation from the declaration of the 2007 World Congress of United Cities and Local Governments in Jeju, Korea, that placed culture as a priority for
cities, councils, local government associations and communities.
Declaration II. ’Act to promote all human rights and respect diversity in our cities and territories as a foundation for peace and development’ . In this declaration, the Congress
recognised ‘that cultural policies form part of the different dimensions of good local governance in the same way as economic and social development or environmental
protection.’
Why invest in community arts and
culture?
• The Australia Council Scoping Study
Reference group found that arts and cultural
activities make significant differences to
people’s lives in many different ways,
including:
• Inclusiveness – making art together and
exploring each other’s cultures, teaches
people to live together with respect and
tolerance.
• Belonging – creating distinctive places
through arts and cultural activities generates
a sense of identity and shared ownership.
• Community building – making art together
builds and strengthens communities in
neighbourhoods, suburbs, towns and rural
areas.
Moon Lantern Festival,
North Richmond
Community Health Centre
Creative Communities
stronger, more self-directed and culturally vibrant communities
shared common goals of economic viability, social equity,
environmental sustainability and cultural vitality
• Arts and cultural practices are valued as an integral part of everyday life;
• Communities are valued as creators and active participants
(not just consumers);
• Cultural diversity is valued as a foundation of innovation,
creativity and artistic excellence; and
• Creativity and innovation are valued as means of engaging communities,
building capacities, responding to issues and generating change.
•artists and communities work together to make a difference.
Australia Council Scoping Study, June 2006
Definition of culture:
• Aesthetic
• Anthropological
• sociological
Value of culture:
• Intrinsic
• Instrumental
• Institutional
Capturing Cultural Value,
John Holden, Demos, UK, 2004
Artists can help people
map their communities,
research and tell their
histories, and convey their
possible futures, in ways
that are creative, engaging,
dynamic and inclusive.
Rick Flowers,
University of Technology, Sydney,
‘Community Capacity Building and
Community Cultural Development’
Value of arts participation:
health and well-being
‘a substantial body of research
pointing to the positive health
impacts of community arts
practice. This research supports
widely held views about the
value of community arts
practice to the health and wellbeing of participants and the
community more broadly’.
Cultures of Well-being:
a review of evidence for
the health benefits of
community arts practice
VicHealth, 2002
African women’s mosaic garden and seating project,
Park St, South Melbourne housing estate
Agenda 21 for
Culture,
United Cities and
Local Governments
www.agenda21cultura.net
Jordi Pascual, Coordinator,
Agenda 21 for Culture, UCLG
•Central role of culture in public planning and policy
•Cultural rights
•Cultural diversity
•Intercultural dialogue
Agenda 21 for culture:
United Cities and Local Governments
• The first document with
worldwide mission that
advocates establishing the
groundwork of an undertaking
by cities and local governments
for cultural development.
• Agreed by cities and local
governments from all over the
world to enshrine their
commitment to human rights,
cultural diversity, sustainability,
participatory democracy and
creating conditions for peace.
Approved Barcelona, May 2004
as part of the first Universal
Forum of Cultures.
Agenda 21 for Culture working group
meeting, October 2006, Barcelona
Meeting of the Working Group on Culture of UCLG, Barcelona, 23-24 October 2006
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Participating cities, local governments and
organisations:
Aide aux Musiques Innovatrices – AMI (Fr),
International Association of Educating Cities - AICE
(Int), Aubagne (Fr),
Ajuntament de Barcelona (Es), Diputació de
Barcelona (Es),
Bilbao (Es), Bogotá (Co), Buenos Aires (Ar),
UCLG – World Secretariat (Int),
CGLU – Commission on Social Inclusion (Int),
Consejo Nacional de la Cultura y las Artes (Chile),
Córdoba (Es), Council of Europe (Int),
Creative City Network of Canada (Ca),
Cultural Development Network - Victoria(Au),
EFAH - European Forum for the Arts and the
Heritage (Int), European Cultural Foundation
(Int), FEMP - Federación Española de Municipios y
Provincias (Es), Genova (It), Lille (Fr),
London (Uk), Lyon (Fr), Metropolis (Int), Ministério
da Cultura – Funarte - Brazil (Br), Ministerio
de Cultura - España (Es), Montréal (Ca), Porto
Alegre (Br), Reading (Uk), les Rencontres (Int),
Rete Italiana Agenda 21 Locali (It), Provincia di
Roma (It), Sevilla (Es), Stockholm (Sw),
Territoires et Cinema (Fr), UNESCO - Social and
Human Sciences Sector (Int),
Zaragoza (Es) /Interlocal network (Int).
France Territoires et Cinéma
France Ville de Lille
France Ville de Nantes
France Ville de Strasbourg
Italy Citta Unite (CICU)
Italy Comune di Roma
Italy Comune di Torino
Italy Comune di Venezia
Portugal Camara Municipal de Silves
Portugal Camara Municipal de Gaviao
Slovakia Cités Unies Slovaquie
Spain Ajuntament de Barcelona
Spain Diputació de Barcelona
Spain Bilboko Udala - Ayuntamiento de Bilbao
Spain Ayuntamiento de Córdoba
Spain Ayuntamiento de Sevilla
Spain Fondo Andaluz de Municipios para la Solidaridad Internacional (FAMSI)
Sweden City of Stockholm
United Kingdom Greater London Authority
LATIN AMERICA
Argentina Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires
Brazil Prefeitura Municipal de Rio de Janeiro
Brazil Prefeitura Municipal de Porto Alegre
Chile Municipalidad de Puerto Montt
Chile Asociación Chilena de Municipalidades
Colombia Federación Colombiana de Municipios
Costa Rica Municipalidad de Escazú
Ecuador Municipio de Cuenca
Ecuador Municipio de Quito
El Salvador Corporación de Municipalidades de la República de El Salvador-COMURES
MIDDLE EAST-WEST ASIA
Jordan Greater Amman Municipality
Lebanon UCLG Office Lebanon, Syria, Jordania
Turkey UCLG-MEWA
NORTH AMERICA
Canada City of Toronto
United States of America Corpus Christi
OBSERVERS*
Australia Cultural Development Network – Victoria
Brazil Ministério da Cultura
Canada Creative City Network of Canada
Canada Ville de Montréal
Chile Consejo Nacional de la Cultura y las Artes
Colombia Alcaldía Mayor de Bogotá
France Aide aux Musiques Innovatrices – AMI
How to adopt Agenda 21 for
culture in your municipality
Around 180 cities, local governments and organisations
from all over the world are linked to Agenda 21 for
culture. A complete list is periodically updated on the
websites.
The formal adoption of Agenda 21 for culture by a local
government has a vast importance: it expresses the
undertaking with the citizens so as to ensure that culture
takes a key role in urban policies, and it shows a sign of
solidarity and cooperation with the cities and local
governments of the world.
www.agenda21cultura.net
Agenda 21 for culture provides an opportunity for
every city to create a long term vision of culture
as a basic pillar in its development.
General concepts and considerations:
• - Local cultural strategy
• - Charter of cultural rights and responsibilities
• - Culture council
• - Cultural impact assessment
Culture and human rights
-Culture and human development.
-Cultural diversity as “a means to achieve a more
satisfactory intellectual, emotional, moral and
spiritual existence.”
- Cultural rights are an integral part of human
rights. “No one may invoke cultural diversity to
infringe upon the human rights guaranteed
by international law, nor to limit their scope.
Mechanisms, instruments and resources for
guaranteeing freedom of speech
- Invitation to artists to
commit themselves with
the city, improving
coexistence and quality
of life, increasing the
creative and critical
capacity of all citizens
Culture and governance
- New central role of culture in society.
Legitimacy of cultural policies
- Quality of local development depends on
the interweaving of cultural policies and
other public policies
- Local governance: a joint responsibility
of citizens, civil society and
governments
Improvement of assessment
mechanisms in culture.
System of cultural indicators
Importance of networks and
international cooperation
Culture, sustainability and community
- Cultural diversity, as necessary for
humankind as biodiversity is for
nature
- Diversity of cultural expressions brings
wealth. Importance of a wide
cultural ecosystem, with diversity of origins,
actors and content
- Dialogue, coexistence and interculturality
as basic principles for the
dynamics of citizen relationships
- Public spaces as cultural spaces
Where to from here?
Where to from here?
Agenda 21 for culture:
United Cities and Local Governments
• Agenda 21 for culture adopted as a reference
document for programs on culture.
Working Group on Culture, constituted in Beijing in
2005, is the meeting point for cities, local
governments and networks that place culture at
the heart of their development processes.
• Cities and local governments the world over adhere
to the Agenda 21 for culture in their local councils.
The process has raised the interest of international
organisations, national governments and civil
society.