Dr. Aleksandra Uzelac, Head of the Department of Culture and Communication, along with 17 other international experts in the field of culture, participated in the work of UNESCO’s Reflection Group on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in the Digital Environment.
Considering the increasing influence of digital technologies on the cultural and creative sectors, the governing bodies of UNESCO’s 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions initiated a process of dialogue, reflection, and defining common priorities, which began in 2012. As digital transformation causes significant changes in the value chain of the cultural sector, this is a crucial issue for the survival of cultural and creative ecosystems. The rapid pace at which technologies develop nowadays is not aligned with the time required for policymakers to respond to new challenges. These challenges include supporting digital transformation, the application of artificial intelligence in culture, the impact of digital platform regulations, access to cultural expressions, the discoverability of national and local cultural content, and the status of artists in the digital environment.
From May 28 to 30, the first meeting of the Reflection Group on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in the Digital Environment was held in Quebec City, Canada, aiming to provide some answers to the context described above. The objective of this reflection group is to develop a set of recommendations aimed at protecting and promoting culture in the digital environment, in anticipation of the 20th anniversary of UNESCO’s Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
The issues addressed covered four interrelated thematic discussions, including promoting linguistic diversity of cultural content; visibility and discoverability of national and local cultural content on digital platforms; the importance of greater and meaningful transparency on digital platforms regarding cultural issues, particularly artistic freedom; and the impact of artificial intelligence on cultural and creative industries.
A day earlier, on May 27, members of the Reflection group participated in a conference titled Promoting our Cultures in the Digital Age – Conversations among cultural workers from here and abroad. This conference was organized by the Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity, following the thematic work program of this UNESCO Reflection group.
The second phase of the Reflection group’s work is planned for November 2024, when the second working meeting will be held in Paris to concretize envisioned recommendations.
