Melbourne to host 5th world summit on arts, culture

The 5th world summit’s theme is Creative Intersections. Arts and creativity are integral to our lives, to which we are as individuals and to how we engage with the world. More broadly, culture, creativity and the creative industries are integral to the health, cohesion and sustainability of our communities and of our society as a […]

The 5th world summit’s theme is Creative Intersections. Arts and creativity are integral to our lives, to which we are as individuals and to how we engage with the world. More broadly, culture, creativity and the creative industries are integral to the health, cohesion and sustainability of our communities and of our society as a whole.  They can play a critical role in the renewal, revival, revitalization and transformation of a place or community.  The cultural, social and economic benefits of the arts impact on our development as individuals and as communities.

Issues such as changing geopolitical influences; enormous structural inequities in the distribution of and access to resources between developing and developed countries; climate change and environmental sustainability; increasingly sophisticated information and communication technologies; and a constantly evolving cultural diversity, are all powerful drivers in influencing the strategic, policy and funding frameworks for arts councils, cultural agencies and governments around the world.

The theme also highlights Australia’s strong reputation as a leader in successfully building collaborations between the arts and other sectors of the society.

The summit will focus views on the arts. As much as we in the global arts community love the arts for their own sake – for the skill, craft, imagination, intelligence, humanity, and sense of awe and awakening they bring us – we are also aware that the arts intersect with the rest of society at multiple flashpoints.  These creative intersections will provide focus over three highly charged days of talks, debates, information-sharing and inspirations.

The official language of the world summit is English.  Interpretation services will be available in French and Spanish for a number of sessions during the summit. Over 600 delegates from 80 countries are expected to attend the fifth world summit in Melbourne.