Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
INTRODUCTION
UNESCO has developed a series of tools specially intended to assist cultural decisionmakers and agents in reflecting on, designing, formulating and implementing cultural policies
and strategies. The guide presented in this document specifically addresses the operational
dimension of the process of formulating a cultural policy.
This document offers general principles and methodological input to guide the formulation
and implementation of cultural policies at the national, regional and/or local levels.
The decision to formulate and implement a cultural policy implies setting a complex process
in motion and establishing conditions that enable public action in the cultural field to be
significant and effective, resulting in practical outcomes that benefit the development of
society.
Formulating a cultural policy is not confined to the drafting of a document, however thorough
and relevant it may be. It entails creating a new momentum and promoting work methods in
the case of institutions and agents responsible for culture, in order to attain a common goal
and a clear and consistent strategy. It involves promoting the cultural dimension of the
society and mobilizing available resources to enable sectors of cultural activity to play their
part in economic, social and human development.
In other words, the cultural policy of a country, region or locality is not the document so
headed but rather the specific guidelines, actions and activities conducted by public
institutions that affect the cultural dimension and related activity sectors.
1.
Goal
Firstly, the general goal of the cultural policy to be formulated must be identified and defined.
This goal will depend on the prevailing social and political context. Proposing a cultural policy
entails rallying the authorities, cultural operators, artists, cultural civil society and other
stakeholders to its goal. Its effective implementation will depend on this.
In general, a cultural strategy should aim to increase the place occupied by culture in public
action and its role in social development.
The guidelines, actions and activities that form the cultural policy must be consistent and
complementary and they must contribute to attaining the goal set.
2.
The effectiveness of cultural policy and the actual possibility of applying it require
sufficient institutional capacity on the part of all institutions concerned, in particular the
Ministry of Culture and the institutions and agencies responsible for the various
cultural sectors and dimensions. This implies assessing these capacities and, where
necessary, introducing sufficient and targeted institutional capacity-building.
Cultural policy must be adapted to the implementation capacities of agents
responsible, the public and private resources available, and the actual conditions and
possibilities of operators and sectors of cultural activity. This requires a clear
examination of the particular sectors political, regulatory, institutional, economic and
social environment.
Cultural policy must be understood, accepted and adopted by all public and private
stakeholders. This implies introducing a participatory process and a suitable
communication and information policy throughout the policy formulation process.
3.
3
4.
4.1
Evaluation and analysis of the initial situation and background in terms of policy,
public action and the dynamic in the field of culture.
Identification of the authorities and agents responsible for formulating and adopting
cultural policy.
Stimulation of the necessary political will to implement a significant and effective
cultural policy.
Involvement in the process of other public administration sectors.
Introduction of mechanisms for consultation and sharing with all stakeholders: cultural
operators, civil society, other national and international cultural sector players.
Capacity-building for those to be in charge of applying the policy: comprehension and
ownership of the policy and enhancing of skills for its implementation.
Preparation of a communication plan for the process and the cultural policy:
elaboration of solid arguments and communication tools.
The various dimensions and phases presented above are indicative and will be adjusted to
each national reality. They may build on each other and/or be conducted concomitantly. The
work plan should include all the relevant phases, a schedule and a budget for the policy
formulation process.
The schedule should include the preliminary phases with their timeframes. The example
below presents the major phases for drawing up a cultural policy.
Analysis and initial diagnosis
1 month
5 months
3 months
3-6 months
1-1 year(s) after the
start of preparation
4
4.2
A situation diagnosis is needed to identify the starting point, appraise the situation and
analyse the context in which the cultural policy will go ahead. To do this, the following should
be analysed:
The current situation with regard to cultural policies: what action and activities are
conducted by the various entities in charge of culture?
Institutions and cultural agents (public, private, voluntary, others): the current role,
presence in the society, territory and sectors, relations between them;
The social reality in which the new cultural policy will take its place:
Territories and communities concerned (State, regional, local, etc.): the reality at
each level, the relationship between them, etc.;
Public (by age group and social category, etc.): presence in programmes and
cultural habits, imbalances and notable absences, etc.
Analysis tools for conducting a diagnosis are presented in the annex to this document.
The diagnosis gathers data, sensitivities, points of view, demands, needs, opportunities and
challenges of the future. It will help identify the potential and the various dimensions that the
cultural policy must address, together with the main strengths and weaknesses of the sectors
of cultural activity:
The diagnosis will be amplified progressively with information collected through the various
stakeholder consultation mechanisms. It should take into account international discussions
and parameters with regard to culture.
Note: An analysis guide for cultural policies has been drawn up to assist you in this diagnosis.
It is presented in the toolbox.
5
4.3
Establishment of a working group to design, draft and propose the content of the
cultural policy; definition of the duties of each member of the group.
4.4
Political will must exist both within and outside cultural institutions:
Ensuring the support and involvement of agents in the Ministry of Culture and cultural
institutions, by informing and involving them from the outset and throughout the
process.
Explaining the goals of the process and communicating effectively. The involvement
of civil society and the cultural world must be visible so that they can bring pressure to
bear on the policymakers.
4.5
Cultural governance depends on the countrys general governance. Cultural policy must
respond to this state of affairs and be fully consistent with the general development strategies
of the country/region.
The setting up of activities for culture sectors depends entirely on other State departments:
economic planning, budget, foreign affairs, tourism, education, social affairs, youth,
decentralization, and so on. All departments concerned must from the outset be associated
with and informed of the cultural policy formulation process. They must be consulted on the
feasibility of and validate the strategies and actions proposed wherever their involvement is
necessary.
The establishment is recommended of an interdepartmental body which should be regularly
informed of the formulation process for cultural policy and will serve to coordinate and
validate proposals.
The decentralized dimension of culture must also be taken into account in this respect by
creating involvement and consultation forums for the relevant territorial authorities.
4.6
The relevance and ultimate success of cultural policy will depend on its ability to involve all
stakeholders. The continuity of a public policy indeed depends on the critical mass of public
and private agents involved.
Participation bodies must inform, gather opinions, evaluate needs and take into account the
demands of the various stakeholders.
Participation mechanisms must provide scope for consultation and coordination of the
following players:
6
Artists/performers and cultural operators, associations, enterprises;
Institutions operating in sectors of culture;
External/international culture sector participants;
The general public.
For each type of category, different participation mechanisms may be set up. Sectoral
meetings should be organized at key points in the process (information on the launch,
proposal of broad outlines, validation).
The requirements and positions emerging from consultations will need to be incorporated in
the strategic proposals that will be or are being prepared.
The consultation mechanisms should take into account the cultural and social diversity of the
communities involved (see UNESCOs Cultural Diversity Programming Lens).
4.7
Institutional capacity is the keystone of any effective cultural policy. The involvement of all
agents entails:
Information and consultation of agents and public officials within the Ministry of
Culture and cultural institutions;
Training of agents in charge;
Action to secure ownership of the cultural policy;
Institutional capacity-building.
4.8
The communication plan is closely related to the previous aspects. The emergence of
political resolve to support the implementation of a cultural policy depends on the
communication strategy targeting policymakers, other State departments, civil society, and so
on.
The communication plan entails drawing up arguments and a specific dissemination plan
centred on authorities, civil society and other stakeholders to explain the relevance of the
process and to show the importance, scope and potential of the resulting cultural policy. It
entails demonstrating that culture is a public good comparable to education and health. In
that regard it is important to:
Demonstrate the place of culture in the public life of society.
Recognize exchange relations between culture and its context (society, time).
Draw on international instruments and documents in this field.
7
5.
8
Drawing up an approximate timetable for the application of the policy (when should it
be done by?)
Finally, the Plan needs to be organized over time. Not everything can or should be done at
once. Every new measure needs time for full development, study and introduction. The Plan
should include a delivery timetable.
Establishing the entities in charge of monitoring and evaluating implementation of the
cultural policy
The process permitting the monitoring and evaluation of its application and results must be
drawn up. This involves defining the body in charge of implementation, the indicators that will
allow an impartial evaluation, the people who will conduct it, the timetable to follow, and so
on. The evaluation should look at the following:
Measurement of the results of the cultural policy;
Achievement of the goals;
Suitability of the strategies;
Implementation of activities;
Involvement of those concerned;
Implementation of the budget;
Implementation of the timetable.
On the basis of the results obtained, appropriate remedial or adjustment measures should be
taken. Since a cultural policy and its plan of application are spread over a number of years,
an evaluation schedule is also necessary and might, for instance, be yearly or six-monthly.
6.
A tool specifically dedicated to the content of a cultural policy is proposed in the UNESCO
toolbox referred to earlier: The new agenda of cultural policies for development and
mutual understanding.
However, it would be useful to set out below, in a brief overview, some important features for
inclusion in a cultural policy.
Development
A cultural policy must seek the overall development of the country, society, communities,
individuals, and so on. The idea is to take a political approach to the sector so as to create
the conditions conducive to maximizing cultures contribution to the development of society.
Analyse links between culture and the other sectors of activity.
Apply recommendations made by international agencies (UNESCO and others).
Diversity and intercultural dialogue
Cultural diversity must be regarded as a feature of mutual furtherance. The cultural policy
must aim to enhance it through intercultural dialogue.
9
Show that cultural diversity is an asset that strengthens society.
Include diversity in work processes, not just outcomes.
Make proposals designed to turn cultural differences to account and facilitate
constructive dialogue.
Apply recommendations made by international agencies (UNESCO and others).
Social cohesion
Culture can make a substantial contribution to forging links within a society.
Identify the most fragile groups.
Define spaces for meeting, exchange and dialogue.
Apply recommendations made by international agencies (UNESCO and others).
Democratization of culture and cultural democracy
A cultural policy must determine in which cases to apply measures to democratize culture
(access for all) and in which other cases cultural democracy measures should be applied
(participation and co-creation).
Identity
Culture is one of the mainstays of the identity of individuals, groups and societies. It reflects a
way of looking at life, the individuals way of being, attaining fulfilment and communicating
with the physical and human surroundings. This identity is reflected in a multiplicity of values
within one and the same society.
Understand the bedrock of values uniting society, in common with the assertion of
different identities.
Recognize the internal diversity in a society, that which makes our identity plural.
Lend weight to the changing, evolving nature of identity and its cultural expressions.
Innovation
Culture transforms societies and drives their evolution, exchange and renewal. Culture is not
only an adaptation to reality but an effort to look to the future.
Enhance innovation as a way to develop societies.
Innovate in form (institutions, work, processes, etc.) and in substance (goals,
strategies, content, cultural and creative industries, etc.).
Show that tradition and innovation are complementary.
10
Participation
We must involve citizens in the development of culture by promoting the organization and
visibility of civil society operating in the various sectors of culture.
Include representatives of different cultural, age, gender and other groups.
Facilitate platforms for exchange, debate, participation, consultation, coordination and
the like.
Consult those active in society (public, private, voluntary sector, etc.) when taking
major decisions.
Introduce into proposals the demands arising from the consultations.
Consolidate the role of civil society in order to help lend continuity to the cultural
policy.
Decentralization
A cultural policy must seek to engage in its activities at the level closest to citizens. Even a
State policy should also be carried out locally.
Find out about practices in other State sectors in the country.
Involve all territorial levels in the methodological processes for formulating cultural
policy.
Try to set up local-scale activities and responsibilities.
Proximity
A cultural policy must define a mode of action that seeks to be close to individuals and
organizations.
Think of all audiences, especially the least prominent or smallest.
Try to reach all these new audiences.
Cooperation
A cultural policy must envisage cooperation outside the cultural sector as such, both in
processes and in the subsequent development of results.
Analyse relations between institutions.
Evaluate and separate the main existing problems.
Identify new working partners.
Involve them in formulating the cultural policy and in its outcomes.
Outline a new proposal for intersectoral cooperation between institutions.
11
Transversality
A cultural policy must provide a framework and permanent arrangements for information and
cooperation with other ministries and departments of the same institution (finance, community
planning, education, social affairs, development, economic promotion, etc.).
Delegation or indirect management
A cultural policy must establish a policy to delegate management of some of the measures
established.
Identify the services or equipment that could be (better) managed by other social
agents.
Identify the agents capable of managing public services.
Information and communication technologies (ICTs)
A contemporary cultural policy must envisage the use of ICTs both in its formulation and in its
outcomes.
Define mechanisms for online participation, debate, consultation, sharing and
exchanging information, and so forth.
Provide a place for ICTs in research, creation, production, dissemination, training,
mediation, communication and other processes.
Communication of culture
Aside from ICTs, it is important to know how to communicate effectively about cultural
activities with the community, organizations, and so on.
Develop communication plans drawn up by specialists.
Think of the various audiences requiring appropriate communication strategies.
Professionalization and voluntary service
A cultural policy must increase the role of volunteers in its configuration and in its application.
It must likewise give professional cultural managers their proper place.
Identify measures that further the professionalization of those active in culture.
Identify measures that reinforce the cultural volunteer sector (associations and
others).
Training
It is important to train those in the public, private and voluntary sectors who will be active in
culture.
Define training needs and possibilities/opportunities for finding responses within
national and international bodies.
Define the skills needed: knowledge of the real social and cultural situation, cultural
management, art, heritage and intercultural resources, and so on.
12
International dimension
A cultural policy must have an international vision seeking stable ties of cooperation with
other countries.
Evaluate the current status of international cooperation projects.
Identify new opportunities (agencies, projects, etc.).
Establish measures and relations for fostering international cooperation.
International organizations and declarations
A cultural policy must include in its discourse and measures the main lines of thought and
action of international agencies (UNESCO and others).
Identify agencies, lines of work and documentary material of note.
Enhance the international dimension of culture.
Evaluation of cultural policies
A cultural policy and its results must be evaluated over the course of its implementation.
Define the evaluation indicators that might be applied.
Establish a general methodology, internal and external responsibilities, a timetable
and a budget for evaluation.
ANNEX
Diagram for the Formulation of a Cultural Policy
(according to Alfons Martinell,1)
The formulation of a cultural policy follows a trajectory from the political decision of the
originating institution to its application:
Starting point
(Identify the origin of and intent to formulate a cultural policy)
Appraisal
(Identify the current cultural policy)
Context analysis
(Identify the social, political, legal, cultural, institutional, etc., context)
Political options/Ideology
Initial measures to be
taken urgently
Identified needs to be
addressed
Formulation of the
cultural policy (Culture
Plan)
Alfons Martinell Sempere, expert in cultural management and policies, is the director of the UNESCO
Chair in Cultural Policies and Cooperation of the University of Girona, Catalonia.