The 6th World Summit, concluded today in Santiago de Chile, brought together almost 400 people from 67 countries to debate global issues that currently impact on the arts, government and society.

With the theme, 'Creative Times: new models for cultural development', the World Summit focused on how shifts in social and economic development and new forms of communication are impacting on development and the role of arts support agencies.

"With austerity measures now in place in several countries, and other governments responding to natural disasters or seismic shifts in the political scene, arts leaders are, more than ever, needing to share expertise and best practice in order to improve their efficiency and effectiveness," said Mr Alan Davey, Chair of IFACCA and Chief Executive, Arts Council England. "We thank the Consejo Nacional de la Cultura y las Artes, and Ministro Presidente Roberto Ampuero for welcoming delegates from around the world to share in this wonderful event."

The 6th World Summit, the first to be held in Latin America, was staged at the historic Centro Cultural Estacion Mapocho and is the key networking opportunity for organisations and individuals with responsibility for arts and cultural policy. For Latin American members, IFACCA provides a means of creating meaningful connections with ministries of culture and arts councils in other parts of the world, be it in the Pacific, Asia, Africa or Europe.

Hosted by the Consejo Nacional de la Cultura y las Artes (CNCA) in partnership with IFACCA, the World Summit brought together experts from around the world to create connections that will underpin artistic exchanges and international collaborations.

Issues identified by delegates at the 6th World Summit included: the role of culture in the post-2015 development agenda, the arts and environmental sustainability, how government can encourage a more active engagement with the private sector, improving advocacy arguments and practices, and making effective use of new technologies to support the making and distribution of art.

The final day of the Summit saw the official handover from the Consejo Nacional de la Cultura y las Artes, Chile to the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, as the host of the next World Summit on Arts and Culture, to be held in October 2016.

The World Summit also provided an opportunity for leaders from approximately 50 national and regional arts funding agencies to participate in the IFACCA CEO Leadership Seminar, the General Assembly and regional meetings – including the formation of special grouping for government arts agencies in the Americas.

IFACCA also announced at the World Summit and related member events the following initiatives:

• The publication of Arts Panorama: International Overview of Issues for Public Arts Administration
• The launch of the Spanish version of the WorldCP website www.worldcp.org and the publication of a profile of cultural policies in Chile on the WorldCP website 
• The publication of IFACCA Good Practice Guide on Arts Advocacy: Advocacy arguments and an overview of national arts advocacy campaign case studies and good practice.
• The publication of Cultural Policy Quick Facts – based on IFACCA's database of cultural policies.
• The publication of D’Art 46. Government’s Role in Encouraging Support for the Arts from the Private Sector: Preliminary Draft.
• The release of Arts and Environment Sustainability: Interim Report – the result of a partnership with Julie’s Bicycle.

For further information, please contact: Natasha Eves, IFACCA at [email protected].