This month our attention is focussed on UNESCO’s 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

Intellectual property and copyright are back in the spotlight this month. In April, the Council of the European Union approved the Directive on Copyright in the Single Digital Market, which will soon require Member States to start legislating at a national level.

This month we are pleased to release the 8th World Summit Report, which offers insight into the knowledge, experience and perspectives shared by participants and details the conversations that took place. It also presents the issues that participants identified as key areas that require action from the international arts and culture community.

In two short weeks, we will welcome delegates to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the 8th World Summit on Arts and Culture. In anticipation of the conversations that will take place, this week we are pleased to release our 8th World Summit Discussion Paper; as well as a public version of Artists, Displacement and Belonging, our recent report for National Members of the Federation.

It is now only six weeks until the 8th World Summit on Arts and Culture and we can confirm that we will be joined by more than 70 expert speakers representing more than 40 countries, for more than 25 programmed sessions during which participants will explore countless vital issues from a multitude of perspectives. We will also be joined by 70 representatives from IFACCA member institutions from across six continents.

Welcome to your first ACORNS for 2019! In the spirit of New Year optimism, this issue we focus on the different ways in which governments, industries, organisations and citizens are working towards a sustainable future for culture in times of significant social, environmental, political and economic change.