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what is
culture
summit?

Culture Summit is a forum that convenes leaders from the fields of the arts, design, heritage, media, museums, public policy and technology, to identify ways in which culture can transform societies and communities worldwide. In April 2019, Culture Summit welcomed more than 480 participants from 90 countries. Experts led panels and workshops on art, museums, cultural heritage, media and technology.

Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, Culture Summit Abu Dhabi 2020 will bring cultural leaders, artists and performers to the capital of the United Arab Emirates for another extraordinary forum of knowledge exchange, debate and policy development, addressing this year’s theme of ‘The Cultural Economy and the Economy of Culture’. Culture Summit 2020 partners include UNESCO, Guggenheim, Royal Academy of Arts, The Economist Events, Google, UNCTAD, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Emirates Diplomatic Academy and Berklee Abu Dhabi.

The Cultural Economy and the Economy of Culture

Culture Summit Abu Dhabi 2020 will address the theme of ‘The Cultural Economy and the Economy of Culture’

How can we find ways of growing the culture and creative industries that benefit countries globally? 

Can we develop viable and sustainable economic models for culture?

How should institutions and practitioners respond to the disruption and transformation of the cultural economy and the economy of culture?

Culture and creative industries are now major drivers of economies worldwide and are recognised as positive forces for societies and economies. Digitisation and technological disruption is driving all aspects of the creation, production and distribution of cultural goods and services. This transformation of cultural development and the cultural economy brings great opportunities for the culture sector, including driving down the costs of creating and distributing cultural products. Paradoxically, many practitioners in the culture and creative industries and broader cultural sector are less secure in their work. Cultural institutions struggle for survival, dependent more than ever on philanthropy and earned revenue against the backdrop of reduced government funding. A key issue, identified by numerous participants at Culture Summit Abu Dhabi 2019, was securing financial support in the face of rapid societal and economic change.