In September, ministers and other key cultural policy decision-makers will meet in Mexico City for MONDIACULT 2022 to discuss how they can better promote sustainable development. The Culture 2030  Goal campaign, of which IFLA is a member, has released a statement in preparation for this.

Culture has a unique potential to contribute to stronger, fairer and more sustainable societies.

In addition to its fundamental underlying role in building social cohesion and creating opportunities, it also is a key factor in policy effectiveness. With progress in so many areas depending on behaviour change, it is essential that the action taken by governments takes account of cultural factors in order to engage fully with citizens.

Furthermore, it has proven its power, throughout the pandemic, as a driver of wellbeing, helping to reduce the stresses and concerns that can lead to a wide range of other issues.

Libraries are of course at the heart of these efforts, acting as community centres, guardians of heritage, delivery points for wider policy goals and more, as highlighted in the summary of IFLA’s MONDIACULT event.

However, the realisation of the potential of culture is not only in the hands of actors in the sector itself. It also requires the support of wider governments with, as a first step, formal recognition of culture’s place as the fourth pillar of sustainable development.

This objective is at the heart of the Culture 2030 Goal campaign, which calls for work towards an explicit goal in future development agendas, as well as fuller integration of culture into delivery of the current 2030 Agenda.

MONDIACULT 2022 has the potential to be a key moment, raising the level of engagement of culture policy makers and stakeholders in wider development strategies, and making a clear call for such a explicit goal in future.

The statement published by the Culture 2030 Goal campaign underlines this point, calling on ministers and others meeting in Mexico to be ambitious in promoting culture with colleagues. In support of this, it also underlines the need to engage fully with stakeholders, in order to draw on their insights, energy and strengths in achieving this.

Read the statement in English, French and Spanish.