UNESCO meeting on cultural diversity in the digital age
Tashi Farmilo
In a historic event, the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Mathieu Lacombe, Minister of Culture and Communications, and Martine Biron, Minister of International Minister of International Relations and La FrancophonieRelations and La Francophonie, officially launched the inaugural meeting of the UNESCO Group of Experts on the diversity of cultural expression in the digital environment. Held in Québec City from May 28 to 30, this gathering brought together global experts to address critical issues affecting cultural diversity online.
"This meeting marks a significant step in our commitment to promoting the diversity of cultural expressions in the context of innovative digital technologies, particularly generative artificial intelligence," stated Ernesto Ottone R., UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Culture. "We are delighted to collaborate with Canada and Quebec to bring together experts who can enlighten Member States on the opportunities and challenges of the digital environment."
The meeting was preceded by a day of conferences on May 27, organized by the Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CDCE) and the International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD). These conferences fostered discussions among cultural workers from Quebec, and around the world on promoting cultures in the digital age.
"Our priority is to promote the growth and influence of our creative industries amidst profound digital change," said Minister St-Onge. "The discussions over the past few days are crucial for helping governments identify and implement solutions to ensure that foreign platforms contribute to our cultural ecosystems by promoting our creators, our stories, and our expertise."
Minister Lacombe highlighted the impact of the digital environment on access to cultural content. "Today's digital environment is having a major impact on people's access to their cultures and diverse cultural content in multiple languages. It is vital to find solutions to promote diversified cultural content that reaches its audiences, especially youth."
Martine Biron highlighted Quebec's leadership role in cultural diversity. "The Quebec government's role at UNESCO on the diversity of cultural expressions is a true diplomatic success. Hosting this international meeting in Québec City reaffirms our commitment to the 2005 Convention in the digital environment and allows us to reflect on innovative solutions to better address the issues we consider priorities for ensuring the continuity of our culture and language."
The meeting saw experts making recommendations on themes such as linguistic diversity of cultural content online, the discoverability of local and national cultural content, transparency of digital platforms, and the impact of artificial intelligence on cultural and creative industries. These discussions aim to advance the priorities of Canadian and Quebec artists, organizations, and cultural and creative industries as they relate to the implementation of the 2005 Convention in the digital environment.
"It is heartening to note that, 25 years after an initial wave of mobilization that gave rise to the very first Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CDCE), and a few years later, to the International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD), the Canadian and Quebec cultural milieu remains strongly committed to preserving cultural sovereignty in the context of digital commerce," said Bill Skolnik, Co-Chair of the CDCE and representative of the Screen Composers Guild of Canada.
Hélène Messier, Co-Chair of the CDCE and President and CEO of the Association québécoise de la production médiatique, concluded, "Amplifying the diversity of our cultural expressions through technology is possible. If States firmly commit to updating their implementation of the 2005 Convention in the digital context, this could well be the stepping stone needed to achieve that amplification."
Photo caption: Mathieu Lacombe at the first working meeting of international experts for the Symposium on Cultural Sovereignty and Digital Giants, held in Quebec City from May 27 to 30, in collaboration with @UNESCO_fr, Quebec, and Canada.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Mathieu Lacombe — X account @lacombemathieu
