UNESCO-Led Workshop in Gansu (China) Nurtures Inclusive Cultural Policies

As part of the technical support for Gansu province to leverage cultural heritage and creativity for sustainable development, the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, in collaboration with the World Bank and the Gansu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, recently hosted a capacity-building workshop in the picturesque city of Zhangye, Gansu Province. Taking place from 2 to 4 July 2024 as part of the Gansu Revitalization and Innovation Project (GRIP), the event aimed to foster effective cultural policies that resonate with the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

Over 100 participants, comprising officials from Gansu's cultural bureaus, local enterprises, and community representatives, engaged in a series of diverse activities, encompassing lectures, case studies, group discussions, and a field visit. The workshop was led by Avril Joffe and Desmond Hui from the UNESCO 2005 Convention Expert Facility, and Professor Xiang Yong, the newly appointed UNESCO Chairholder on Creativity and Sustainable Development in Rural Areas from Peking University. 

Under their expert guidance, the workshop served as a dynamic platform for exchanging global best practices. Discussions were enriched with insights on participatory governance, evidence-based policy-making, and the profound impacts of digital technology on the cultural and creative industries (CCIs). The workshop emphasized nurturing creative talents and building robust public-private partnerships, all within the context of Gansu's unique cultural landscape.

Local experts from Gansu's universities and private sector contributed to the workshop by reflecting the global outlook on China's cultural landscape, with a spotlight on the province's distinctive CCIs. Interactive group work sessions allowed participants to identify current gap in cultural policies and measures, and explore untapped avenues for growth. For example, participants have proposed to establish platforms that link the government and the creative sector’s actors to promote exchanges; empower cultural and creative professionals through digital technology; establish a creative design service platform to provide companies with one-stop services such as brand planning, product design, and packaging design to enhance the market competitiveness of products, etc.

A highlight of the workshop was the field visit to the Zhangye UNESCO Global Geopark – Colorful Danxia Scenic Spot and a local creative hub, offering participants a firsthand look at the promotion of cultural resources and the management of CCIs initiatives. These experiences sparked further discussions on enhancing existing practices and aligning them with sustainable development goals.

The workshop has successfully positioned itself as a catalyst for creating an environment conducive to the flourishing of diverse cultural expressions in Gansu Province. As the participants return to their roles, equipped with new knowledge and strategies, the impact of this collaborative endeavor is expected to continue to enrich the diversity of Gansu’s cultural expressions and their contribution to sustainable development.