The International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD) will take part in MONDIACULT 2025, the world’s biggest conference on cultural policy and sustainable development.

From 29 September to 1 October 2025, the Spanish government will host this major event at the Centre Convencions Internacional de Barcelona (CCIB), contributing to the shaping of the future Global Agenda for Culture.

Parallel to MONDIACULT’s programming, the Civil Society Forum, the Civic Agora, will take place from 26 September to 1 October 2025.

IFCCD’s delegation will include:

  • Guillaume Prieur, President of IFCCD and Secretary General of the French Coalition for Cultural Diversity;
  • Mahamadou Amadou, IFCCD Vice-President for Africa and President of the Nigerien Coalition for Cultural Diversity;
  • Holly Aylett, IFCCD Secretary and Executive Director of the UK Coalition for Cultural Diversity;
  • Marie-Julie Desrochers, IFCCD Secretary General and Executive Director of the Canadian Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CDEC);
  • Solange Morales, regular member of IFCCD and President of the Brazilian Coalition for Cultural Diversity;
  • Bill Skolnik, regular member of IFCCD and Co-Chair of the Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (Canada and Quebec).

IFCCD in the Official MONDIACULT 2025 Program

In front of representatives from UNESCO, governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector, IFCCD will strongly advocate for the integration of culture into future public policies for sustainable development. Through its events and interventions, IFCCD will emphasize that defending linguistic and cultural diversity in the age of artificial intelligence, valuing Indigenous knowledge, and adopting a sustainable development goal dedicated to culture are essential imperatives for a fairer, more sustainable, and more inclusive world.

MONDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER 2025

Listening to the Land: Indigenous Knowledges in Policy – 6:15–7:15pm (CEST) – Room 212, CCIB

Indigenous communities bring valuable insights and represent key contributors to meaningful and sustainable policies. Their perspectives, deeply rooted in relationships with land, water and all living beings, provide ethical frameworks and guide global responses to contemporary challenges such as peacebuilding, social justice, inclusive cultural policies and climate crises. This event will explore how including Indigenous voices, languages, places, cultural expressions and heritage-based knowledge and practices can enrich inclusive research and sustainable policymaking.

Language: English

Moderator: Mererid Hopwood: Archdderwydd Cymru (Archdruid of Wales); Poet; Secretary of Academi Heddwch Cymru (Wales’s Peace Institute), Professor of Welsh & Celtic Studies at Aberystwyth University

Panelists:

  • Barbara Filion, Arts, Culture & Indigenous Policy Practitioner
  • Damien Serre, Professor of Geography, Université Paris Saclay-UVSQ, France
  • Tom Johnson, Chairperson, Hawiⱡkini kiⱡkiⱡwiy kakⱡukaqwaⱡaʔis – CCUNESCO’s Working Group on Indigenous Languages; Executive Director, Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife Commission

Organizers:

Achieving Cultural Policy Goals through Coordinated Action and Dialogue – 6:15–7:15pm (CEST) – Room 1, CCIB

This event will bring multiple experiences and perspectives together with the common thread of working collaboratively to advance the recognition of culture’s value for the wellbeing and Sustainable Development. UNESCO National Commissions will share how they implement the goals of Mondiacult on the ground with UNESCO designations, such as World Heritage Sites and Biospheres. The Culture2030Goal Campaign will introduce a proposal for a potential culture-specific goal, with targets and indicators, which have been created with input from civil society organisations across the worldwide culture sector.

Language: English

Moderators:

  • Claire McGuire, Manager of Policy and Advocacy, IFLA
  • James Bridge, Secretary-General and Chief Executive of the UK National Commission for UNESCO

Panelists:

  • Alicja Jagielska-Burduk, Secretary-General Polish National Commission for UNESCO, UNESCO Chair on Cultural Property Law, UNITWIn Culture in Emergencies
  • Marva Browne, Secretary-General Curacao National Commission for UNESCO
  • Sharon Memis, Secretary General, IFLA
  • Silja Fischer, Secretary General, International Music Council
  • Holly Aylett, Executive Director of the UK Coalition for Cultural Diversity (UKCCD), member of the Board of Directors of the IFCCD

Organizers:

WEDNESDAY, 1 OCTOBER

Culture as a Public Good and Economic Driver: Strengthening Cultural Diversity through Economic Development in the Age of Generative AI – 1:30–2:30pm (CEST) – Room 4, CCIB

This side event aims to spotlight how the protection and promotion of cultural diversity can go together with the economic development of CCIs. By merging insights from three initiatives — Africalia’s advocacy for investing in cultural and creative industries (CCIs), IFCCD’s efforts to advance cultural rights in the age of generative AI, with particular attention to the diverse realities and priorities of the Francophonie,  and CME’s research on music as an economic good — the event will explore the intersections of culture as both a fundamental human right and a sustainable economic driver.

Languages: French and English

Moderator: Marie-Julie Desrochers, Secretary General of the International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD) and Executive Director of the Canadian Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CDCE)

Panelists:

  • Dorine Rurashitse, Executive Director, Africalia
  • Marie-Christine Morin, Executive Director, Fédération culturelle canadienne-française (FCCF)
  • Shain Shapiro, Executive Director, Center for Music Ecosystems

Organizers:

IFCCD at the Civil Society Forum (Civic Agora)

The Civil Society Forum (Civic Agora) has been designed to collectively reflect on the role of culture in building contemporary societies and to enrich the debates of MONDIACULT 2025. Taking place at the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB), the Civic Agora will focus mainly on three themes: cultural rights, the use of artificial intelligence in culture, and culture for peace.

IFCCD will participate in two panels during this Forum, showcasing its expertise and vision to promote the diversity of cultural expressions as a lever for sustainable development and to safeguard it in the era of artificial intelligence.

SATURDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER

The Need for a Culture Goal – 11:30am–1:30pm (CEST) – Sala Teatra, CCCB

This session will serve as the main space to present Version 1 of the Culture Goal, including its objectives and indicators, and to launch a global conversation on the topic. It will be a key moment to amplify the voices of global cultural networks, particularly members of the Culture2030Goal Campaign, at this pivotal point for culture in the global sustainable development agenda. The session will also feature leading countries and key stakeholders in the discussion.

Panelists:

  • Sònia Hernández Almodóvar
  • John Crowley
  • IFLA
  • ICOMOS
  • ICOM
  • IMC
  • Arterial Network
  • Culture Action Europe
  • UCLG
  • IFCCD
  • Alexandra Xanthaki

MONDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER

Augmented Creativity: Artificial Intelligence and Cultural Practices – 5:30–7:00pm (CEST) – Auditorium, CCCB

What happens when human creativity meets algorithmic power? This session will explore the limits, potential, and ethical dilemmas of AI applied to creative processes. Using critical perspectives and emerging practices, the discussion will examine how technologies can expand or reduce cultural agency, redefining authorship, imagination, and human-machine relationships.

Panelists:

  • Eva Sòria
  • Octavio Kulesz
  • Guillaume Prieur
  • Alexandra Xanthaki
  • Fèlix Manito

Towards a Sustainable and Fair Culture

MONDIACULT 2025 will also be a key moment to discuss initiatives for sustainable culture. On this occasion, and alongside the conference and the Civil Society Forum, a workshop will be dedicated to Fair Culture, highlighting more inclusive and responsible practices. Mahamadou Adamou, IFCCD Vice-President, Nigerien Coalition for Cultural Diversity, will participate.

SUNDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER

Fair Culture: A Key to Sustainable Development. Creating a Tool for Fair Collaboration in the Culture and Creative Sector Worldwide – 3:30–5:30pm (CEST) – Institut français, Calle Moià 8, 08006 Barcelona

At the heart of the workshop is the Fair Culture Charter – a practical tool designed to promote fairness, sustainability, decent working conditions, and fair remuneration for artists, creators, and cultural workers worldwide. The event will introduce the Charter, explore strategies for its implementation, and discuss its potential to address key priorities identified for MONDIACULT 2025, particularly in the context of the Economy of Culture and Cultural Rights.

The workshop will also be available online. Registration is open until 22 September.Languages: French, English, and Spanish

Moderator: Farai Mpfunya, Editorial Team Member, Fair Culture Charter

Panelists:

  • Mahamadou Adamou, IFCCD Vice-President, Nigerien Coalition for Cultural Diversity
  • Omoyemi Akerele, Founder & CEO, Lagos Fashion Week
  • Silja Fischer, Secretary General, International Music Council
  • Ángeles González-Sinde, Vice President, CISAC; Award-winning Screenwriter and Director (TBC)
  • Lutz Möller, Deputy Secretary General, German Commission for UNESCO
  • Phloeun Prim, Executive Director, Living Arts International; Mekong Cultural Hub; Cambodian Living Arts (TBC)
  • Eduardo Saravia, Sound Diplomacy, Colombia; Editorial Team Member & Young Expert for Fair Culture
  • Kenza Sefrioui, CEO, En Toutes Lettres, Morocco (TBC)
  • Sophie Tack, President, World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) (TBC)

Organizers:

  • German Commission for UNESCO
  • Goethe-Institut (Germany)
  • Instituto Maracá (Brazil)
  • Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship & Innovation (IKPI, Serbia)
  • International Federation of Actors (FIA)
  • International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD)
  • International Federation of Musicians (FIM)
  • UNESCO Chair, Université Laval (Canada)
  • French National Commission for UNESCO
  • Kenyan National Commission for UNESCO

By participating in MONDIACULT 2025, alongside the 194 UNESCO Member States, IFCCD will have the opportunity to actively contribute to shaping the Global Agenda for Culture and to highlight the power of culture as a driver of sustainable development.

    IFCCD Participation in MONDIACULT 2025

    Article
    IFCCD
    17 September 2025
    UNESCO
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