Cultural events are listed here with basic background details. For specific events, dates, and times, please see the Featured Events on the Cultural Calendar main page.

EVENT DESCRIPTION

World Day for Cultural Diversity is an event that annually celebrates the richness of the world's cultures, but also the essential role of intercultural dialogue for achieving peace and sustainable development. The pandemic has proven the intrinsic value of the cultural and creative sector of generating social cohesion, educational resource of personal well-being in times of crisis. It has undermined the sector's potential to generate economic growth, something which is too often underestimated. The cultural sector accounts for 3.1% of global GDP and 6.2% of all employment. Three quarters of the world's major conflicts have a cultural dimension. Bridging the gap between cultures is urgent and necessary for peace., stability and development. Cultural diversity is a driving force for development, not only with respect to economic growth, but also as a means of leading a more fulfilling intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual life. This is captured in the culture conventions, which provide a solid basis for the promotion of cultural diversity. Cultural diversity for poverty reduction and the achievement of sustainable development.  

At the same time, acceptance and recognition of cultural diversity through innovative use of media and Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) are conducive to dialogue among civilizations and cultures, respect and mutual understanding. 

UNESCO adopted the universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity in 2001. This was followed by UN General 

Assembly's resolution 57/249 in December 2002, declaring May 21st to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, and in 2015, these committee of the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted the resolution on Cultural and Sustainable Development, affirming cultures contributing to the three dimensions of sustainable development, acknowledging further the natural and cultural diversity of the world and recognising that cultures of the world and recognised that cultures and civilisation can contribute to, and are crucial enablers of sustainable developments. The Day and its celebrations provide an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to advance the four goals of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions adopted on 20th October 2005: 

-Support sustainable systems of governance culture  

- Achieve a balanced flow of cultural goods and services and increase mobility of artists and cultural professionals 

- Integrate culture in sustainable development frameworks 

-Promote human rights and fundamental freedoms. 

LIKELY DATES

21 May every year.