Braga Manifesto: A Culture Goal for Sustainable Developmen
We, the Mayors of the UNESCO Creative Cities, united on the occasion of the
XVI Annual Conference of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, in Braga,
Portugal, from 1 to 5 July 2024, set forth our shared vision and objectives towards
the integration of culture as a stand-alone goal in the post-2030 international
development agenda.
Established in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network brings together 350
cities in more than 100 countries to place cultural assets and creative potential
at the heart of local development plans, as well as actively cooperate at the
international level across seven creative fields – Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film,
Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and Music – through innovative urban policies
and initiatives to attain economic, social and environmental impacts.
We, the Mayors of the UNESCO Creative Cities, united on the occasion of the
XVI Annual Conference of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, in Braga,
Portugal, from 1 to 5 July 2024, set forth our shared vision and objectives towards
the integration of culture as a stand-alone goal in the post-2030 international
development agenda.
Braga
Manifesto
As Mayors of the world’s Creative Cities, we underline the importance of
strengthening international cooperation at the local level to promote culture
and creativity as strategic factors for sustainable urban development and leverage
cities’ cultural assets and creative potential to contribute to the achievement of
the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
A Culture Goal for Sustainable Development
United in purpose, we target effectively to embed culture at the core of
sustainable development, interconnecting its goals and making our cities
diverse, inclusive, and resilient for all, by charting a concrete course for the
post-2030 Agenda towards a transformative and sustainable future that benefits
both present and future generations.
To this end:
1. We advocate for the integration of culture as a stand-alone goal in the post2030 United Nations development agenda. We commit to supporting the
implementation of MONDIACULT 2022 Declaration priorities by fostering
international cooperation, knowledge exchange and cultural projects among
cities worldwide, and integrating culture into urban development towards
sustainable, resilient and inclusive cities and communities.
2. We call for the universal recognition and protection of cultural rights. We
affirm the right of all citizens, including marginalized and vulnerable groups,
regardless of age, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, economic or
other status, to have inclusive and equitable access to culture. We believe that
everyone should be able to participate freely and fully in cultural life, promoting
diversity and artistic freedom while fostering social inclusion. Furthermore, we aim
to enhance the socio-economic rights of artists and cultural professionals and
promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in the field of culture
through effective cultural policies and infrastructures.
3. We support the advancement and potential of digital technologies for the
culture sector, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and low-tech innovation to
enhance cultural experiences and opportunities, and widen equal access to
creative and cultural content. We commit to harnessing digital innovation to
preserve and share our heritage. In addition, we advocate for better regulation of
digital platforms to address the global imbalance in the flow of cultural goods and
services, to guarantee privacy and data protection. We are committed to ensuring
leadership, as well as a just and ethical transition to AI that guarantees cultural
diversity, free, prior and informed consent, fair remuneration and transparency.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network will work alongside international city
networks, cross-sectoral ecosystems, and intergovernmental organizations to
accelerate the implementation of the priorities of the MONDIACULT 2022
Declaration, with a view to enabling the full potential of culture as a catalyst for
people-centred transformation and progress towards peaceful and just
societies.
4. We prioritize the role of local governments in promoting inclusive culture and
arts education, fostering creative thinking across all generations, in particular
among youth, to strengthen the skills and capacities of local communities,
enhance livelihoods and promote lifelong and life wide learning building on
cultural diversity as vital areas to nurture informed and engaged citizens.
5. We work to leverage the strong linkages between creative industries and
culture to foster sustainable and inclusive urban tourism as a driver of
socioeconomic growth, employment, and social progress for cities. We commit to
the protection of cultural heritage and the dynamization of creative industries
through sustainable urban tourism development.
6. We recognize the role of culture as a driving force for economic
development, diversity and innovation and support initiatives that ensure the
sustainability of cultural and creative industries, boost local economies, promote
economic opportunities, diversification and wellbeing and create resilient cultural
ecosystems both in rural and urban areas by encouraging entrepreneurship, job
creation and investment.
7. We acknowledge the profound impact of climate change on cultural heritage
and creativity. We commit to protecting tangible and intangible cultural heritage
as testimonies of identity and fostering culture-driven practices that tackle
environmental threats and promote cultural resilience in the face of climate
challenges.
8. We support the protection of culture and cultural professionals at risk and in
crisis, through policies and mechanisms that promote cultural diversity and the
diversity of cultural expressions, protect cultural heritage, and enable peaceful
solutions and global dialogue, bolstering resilience, fostering a shared culture for
mutual-understanding and international collaboration, contributing to
reconciliation, democracy, equity, human rights and peace, and the achievement
of the sustainable development goals.
UNESCO Creative Cities Network