As reported in the International Network for Cultural Diversity (INCD) newsletter, the January conference, Globalisation, Cultural Diversity, and UNESCO: Imperatives for U.S Arts and Cultural Practitioners and Organisations held at the Smithsonian Institution over January 10-11, was a great success. The conference was attended by over a hundred representatives from arts and cultural organisations across America. Delegates included staff from the U.S. State Department, intellectual property advocates and a range of artists and arts practitioners. There were also delegates from Canada, and various Washington embassies including France. The conference was convened in partnership with the International Network for Cultural Diversity, and chaired by one of their committee members, James Early. The goals of the conference were to stimulate U.S. arts and culture organisations, and promote a broader awareness of global diversity in line UNESCO’s draft Convention for the protection of the diversity of cultural contents and artistic expressions. In this respect, it was both a promotion and analysis of current UNESCO policy and process, and the nexus where those two meet in the United States. There was a focus on dialogue and collaboration – and a call for arts organisations to become increasingly involved with the new U.S. UNESCO National Commission. Attendees discussed questions like, “Are cultural goods and services merely products like any other?”, “How do we ensure that cultural systems reflect the rich diversity of communities that exist in many countries?” and topics like “Threatened Cultures and Indigenous Peoples.” The conference highlighted the difference between a cultural approach to the market, and the market’s approach to culture (the latter of which characterises the U.S. government position on UNESCO’s work. Interestingly, conference participants felt that the present UNESCO draft still favours a market approach to culture, trivialising cultural diversity in its own right and focussing on trade at its expense. Specific recommendations made at the end of the conference will be posted on a web site soon, along with recorded debates and speakers. Meetings for special interest and sector groups are also hoped to be organised in the coming months. For more information about the INCD’s work and upcoming events, please visit www.incd.net.