ICRRA
Culture in Security
(2023)
How can the arts, heritage and cultural sectors contribute to peace and security in an increasingly conflicted world? At the 2022 ICRRA conference, academic approaches and practical projects from around the world showcased the important role that international cultural relations can play in this. This report shares the overarching message of the conference – about the potential for international cultural relations to re-energise delivery of SDG 16 (peace and justice) and to promote a more holistic understanding of peace and security – along with a summary of reflections from the conference around the key concepts of human security and cultural rights. Case studies and quotes by the participants illustrate these points and exemplify how this cultural relations approach to peace and security works on the ground in different settings.
This report developed by members of the International Cultural Relations Research Alliance (ICRRA) is based on the discussions that took place at the second ICRRA conference in Octo-ber 2021. It examines current challenges and opportunities posed by the crosscutting crisis affecting climate, health and politics faced by international cultural relations practitioners and policy-makers. It presents recommendations to these stakeholders, and outlines areas of future research. A particular focus is on how to continue using international cultural relations to support societies in valuing and upholding fairness, equity and democracy, as key values ori-enting the tackling of both global and local problems and finding co-created and collaborative solutions.
