The first Americas Cultural Summit took place from 9–11 May in Ottawa, Canada, hosted by the Canada Council for the Arts in partnership with the Ministry for Culture Argentina and IFACCA.  

The Summit brought together more than 160 cultural leaders and decision makers from 33 countries (25 in the Americas) spanning five continents to exchange ideas and best practices to advance public support for the arts and culture and build vibrant, prosperous, and inclusive societies. 

The Summit launched rich conversations on the theme of cultural citizenship – a concept which emphasises the expression of diverse cultural practices and identities alongside full participation in cultural life. Leading artists and thinkers inspired public and private funders, institutions, associations and practitioners in the room to consider their role and influence in building more vibrant, prosperous, open and inclusive societies, and to discuss how they could work together to achieve it. 
 

Image: Cultural Agencies Roundtable: Creating Participatory Futures Panel
Credit: Martin Lipman. Courtesy: Canada Council for the Arts

Identifying common issues and priorities, such as the need for greater diversity and inclusion in the cultural sector, a vision for digital commons and support of Indigenous rights, delegates endorsed a joint Call to Action that will have lasting results. Among the high number of decision-makers in the room were seven Ministers of Culture and over 70 representatives of public agencies for the arts and culture. 

Read more about the themes explored in our editorial roundup of the event From poetic technologies to participatory futures: an overview of the Americas Cultural Summit.
 

Visit the Americas Cultural Summit website for more information (en español or en français)

Read the post-Summit Report 

Watch videos from the Summit 

ver en español / voir en français

See the full programme