We are delighted to launch the 10th World Summit Discussion Paper: Charting the future of arts and culture. This Discussion Paper sets out to provoke critical reflection on these ideas and issues that affect culture and the cultural and creative sector, ranging from the exciting and daunting aspects of technology and AI, and their anthropophagic nature; to how we gather, exchange ideas, and participate; and the types of agency we need to ensure a future with diverse narratives and worldviews.
The Discussion Paper brings together 10 thought leaders from around the world who were invited to share their perspectives on these issues and consider actions that governments and people could and should take, presented through nine essays by: Ms Paula Carr and Mr Haniko Te Kurapa (Aotearoa New Zealand); Mr Lars Ebert (Belgium); Ms Sarah Abdu Bushra (Ethiopia); Prof Dr Nishant Shah (India); Ms Marcela Flores Méndez (Mexico); Mr Mauricio Delfin (Peru); Ms Marichu G. Tellano (the Philippines); Dr Zune Lee (Republic of Korea), Dr Jazmín Alejandra Beirak Ulanosky (Spain).
These authors bring diverse perspectives and lived experiences from across the arts and cultural ecology, working in public institutions, academia, or civil society organisations, and as Indigenous and cultural leaders, artists and cultural workers. They also speak to a range of contextual realities – both cultural and geographic – that will be vital as we chart this future collectively. The nine essays in the Discussion Paper are notable as standalone pieces, yet collectively they demonstrate shared local and global concerns that will spark thought and discussion when we come together in Seoul in May 2025.
The nine essays highlight key challenges facing the arts and cultural sector and offer insights for shaping a resilient future. To futureproof the sector, we must actively engage as stakeholders, fostering collective action to uphold human values in the face of GenAI and machine learning. Cultural rights should guide inclusive frameworks that challenge systemic inequalities, while participatory systems must be critically assessed to build trust and ensure meaningful engagement. Amid rising polarisation, safeguarding self-governance and storytelling is essential, alongside creating spaces for education, intergenerational knowledge exchange, and dialogue. Strengthening cooperation between governments, the private sector and individuals is crucial for sustaining diverse cultural ecosystems, as is embracing local perspectives, care-based approaches and ethical digital practices to ensure a thriving cultural future.
The Discussion Paper is available to download in English, Spanish and Korean.