Conference of Ministers of Culture: “Creating our future: creativity and cultural heritage as strategic resources for a diverse and democratic Europe”
In the framework of the Italian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, the Council of Europe and the Italian Ministry of Culture are organizing a Conference of Ministers of Culture in a hybrid format (in Strasbourg and online), on 1 April. Italian Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini and Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić will deliver the opening speeches along with other high-level representatives. Ukraine’s Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko will address the conference with a statement highlighting not only the negative impact and damage to Ukraine’s cultural heritage and culture in the aftermath of the aggression of the Russian Federation, but also showing how they face it with resilience and using their creative forces.
Culture, creativity and cultural heritage are strategic resources used to shape a diverse and democratic Europe. Culture is a driver of political, social and technological change, but it is also directly impacted by today’s global challenges. Culture and creativity, cultural heritage and landscape pave the way for freedom of expression (online and offline), support developments in artificial intelligence, empower civil society, encourage public debate and provide democratic citizenship education platform. Art and creativity, heritage and landscape can benefit from technological developments and also contribute to defining the new reality. In accordance with the priorities of the Italian presidency, as well as the challenges linked to the digital transformation of our society, two questions will be at the center of the debate:
How to ensure that the unique legal framework created by the Council of Europe conventions on culture, heritage and landscape helps society to meet the challenges of our time?
What in the cultural landscape will ensure the protection of cultural diversity and freedom of expression in the digital environment, while expanding democratic participation?
Two side events will provide an additional hands-on flavor to the conference:
Background information