The Commonwealth Group on Culture and Development.
Culture is ignored at the peril of development, high level panel of cultural experts warns
1 July 2009
Commonwealth Foundation cultural panel claims the arts are not just the “icing on the cake”
Governments around the world should take heed of the “transformative power” of culture in social, economic and environmental development, a panel of artists, writers and high ranking arts administrators proclaimed last week.
The Commonwealth Group on Culture and Development – convened by the Commonwealth Foundation earlier this year - warned at their inaugural meeting on 25 and 26 June 2009 that culture is too often neglected at the cost of human and environmental development.
“We want to encourage politicians, governments and organisations to think through just what they can do to maximise the role of culture in working with development in their countries,” chair of the group and acclaimed British artist, Baroness Lola Young, said at the meeting at Marlborough House, the headquarters of the Foundation in London.
Incorporating the arts into development programmes
“There is a perception that culture is the frilly bit, the icing on the cake, and once we’ve sorted out the really big problems then we’ll deal with culture,” she explained. “We say totally the opposite.
“We’re in a pretty horrible space at the moment across the world – we’ve got an economic recession, environmental damage, conflict, all kinds of problems. But culture can make a contribution towards mitigating the worst effects of these.”
During their two-day session, the group discussed how governments and development organisations should engage artists, actors, musicians and other arts professionals to help communicate essential messages on issues as diverse as climate change, education, health and HIV/AIDS.
A final declaration - based on input being sought from organisations and individuals around the Commonwealth - will be made available to Heads of Government at their biennial summit in Trinidad and Tobago in November this year.
‘A reframing of the relationship between culture and development’
Bangladeshi author and fellow panel member Tahmima Anam, who last year won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book, agreed that cultural assets are too often “overlooked”.
“Development programmes which incorporate some aspect of culture are the ones that are most effective,” she said.
“One of our projects is to look at how we can monetise cultural resources and appreciate cultural capital. A very poor country like Bangladesh has so many folk singers - those folk singers can be really useful in spreading social messages.
“It is really about a reframing of the relationship between culture and development – they don’t have to be separate.”
The panel includes award-winning UK and Trinidadian artist Keith Khan, Director-General of Multilateral Affairs and International Commitments at the Québec Ministry of International Relations Éric Théroux, the Ugandan writer Ayeta Anne Wangusa, and African Arts Institute Executive Director Mike van Graan.
Other members include Australian academic Professor David Throsby, UK National Portrait Gallery Director Sandy Nairne, Pacific Arts Alliance Secretary-General Letila Mitchell, Indian academic Sitharamam Kakarala, Sarstoon Temash Institute of Indigenous Management Executive Director Gregory Ch'oc, and chair of BOND (British Overseas NGOs for Development) Anna Feuchtwang.
I am very heartened to read the mission of the Commonwelath Group on Culture and Development and believe that they have an important mission in a world rapidly forgeting the close correlation of culture with development. A loss of culture leaves a sterile society.
I agreed that, Man is born a barbarian, and only raises himself above the beast by culture,according to Baltasar Gracian. Our culture is our value therefore need to be preserved for development to be meaningful.
It is great thing to be associated with you.
Dear Members, This initiative could not have chosen a great time get on Board on the multitude of issues drowning the existence of the indigenous people or the peoples Culture. With Climate change and all those irresponsible governments who are choosing economic above humanity and our right to our cultural habitation and traditional setting is considered inhuman and irresponsible.
This is wonderful reading, finally seeing in print the values of culture as a development tool.way to go...
Once the distinction has not been made about the differences between culture in performance and culture as a way of life, the glue that holds values, worldview, and spirituality together-there will always be confusion. Remember that language is the key that opens cultural doors to the house of growth and development.
Culture should be treated as the basis of all development. Thus the development programmes thrust from above will be accepted by the people and yield maximum benefit. People easily heard the voice of their culture rather than speech of an alien force.
Culture is in the DNA of each and everyone. You dont have to famous to make an impact and that is the underlying sustaining and resilient aspect of culture. Yes, I really enjoyed reading this because it means that people are beginning to realise that we cannot treat development in an artificial way. Thanks for sharing this powerful message to development practicioners and thinkers throughout our world. Kind regards, Mari
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