In recent years it has become increasingly evident that those who wish to advance the cause of the arts, culture and creativity as a recognized element of social policy and as a significant contributor to the new imagination economy have to find new arguments and evidentiary materials in their support, and new ways to present them.

The importance of advocacy of this kind (also referred to as public awareness or consciousness-raising) was emphasized in the Road Map that emerged from the UNESCO World Conference on Arts and Learning in Lisbon in 2005, and has been adopted as one of the three principal areas of interest and action by the World Alliance for Arts and Education at the World Creativity Summits of 2007 and 2008.

Scholars and researchers are invited to contribute articles that address this issue from a broad variety of perspectives, for the December, 2009 edition of the UNESCO Observatory E-journal of Multidisciplinary Research in the Arts (Vol. 1, no. 5). Topics could include but are not limited to:

Case studies of examples of the economic, social and/or educational benefits of exposure to and engagement with the arts and creative expression in all disciplines and at all levels (professional, recreational, educational);
Examinations of the role and use of the Internet and social networking as a means to build understanding and support;
Analyses of other messaging formats, messaging media and message-making campaigns that could elevate public and political awareness and discourse across a broad social audience;
Discussions of the relationship of cultural advocacy to national and international approaches to multiculturalism, globalization and the protection of cultural goods and services.

The Call for Papers is now open. Deadline for finished submissions is 23 October.

http://www.abp.unimelb.edu.au/unesco/ejournal/vol-one-issue-five.html