"This Report demonstrates that innovative cultural policies implemented at regional and local levels have a positive impact on the whole of cultural governance. It highlights the strategic frameworks best adapted to the digital environment, the emergence of exchange platforms and the dynamism of artistic incubators in the global South. It also points to the persistent inequalities and underrepresentation of women in the culture sector, trade barriers on cultural goods and services from the global South and the vulnerability of artists at risk. By providing yet unpublished statistics and data in these areas, this Report is essential for developing and implementing public policies that are adapted to the evolving needs of the culture sector"--Foreword.

Anniversaries are a time for reflection and planning. The 10th anniversary of the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions provides its Parties and non governmental stakeholders with a significant opportunity to recall its origins, critically review the achievements and, on this basis, form an ambition for the implementation of the Convention for the next ten, twenty, even thirty years. One of the questions asked during this anniversary year is whether or not the implementation of the Convention reflects the vision of its authors. In other words, has it led to the positive changes its drafters envisaged? What steps have been taken to reach the four main goals of the Convention: support sustainable systems of governance for culture; achieve a balanced flow of cultural goods and services and increase the mobility of artists and cultural professionals; integrate culture in sustainable development frameworks; and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms. This new Global Report series presents evidence on the implementation of the Convention goals, with a proposed set of indicators to monitor change and progress over time. Based on the quadrennial periodic reports submitted so far by Parties, as well as other sources, this maiden edition is a first effort to take stock and share information on the challenges encountered, in particular in emerging policy areas, such as digital, public service media, preferential treatment as well as gender and artistic freedom. It investigates how cultural policies may have been re-shaped as a result of efforts to implement the Convention. This Report is also intended to provide evidence for the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

Culture and creativity have untapped potential to deliver social, economic, and spatial benefits for cities and communities. Cultural and creative industries are key drivers of the creative economy and represent important sources of employment, economic growth, and innovation, thus contributing to city competitiveness and sustainability. Through their contribution to urban regeneration and sustainable urban development, cultural and creative industries make cities more attractive places for people to live in and for economic activity to develop. Culture and creativity also contribute to social cohesion at the neighborhood level, enable creative networks to form and advance innovation and growth, and create opportunities for those who are often socially and economically excluded. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has had a deep impact on the cultural sector, yet it has also revealed the power of cultural and creative industries as a resource for city recovery and resilience. More generally, cities are hubs of the creative economy and have a critical role to play in harnessing the transformative potential of cultural and creative industries through policies and enabling environments at the local level. 'Cities, Culture, and Creativity' (CCC) provides guiding principles and a CCC Framework, developed by UNESCO and the World Bank, to support cities in unlocking the power of cultural and creative industries for sustainable urban development, city competitiveness, and social inclusion. Drawing from global studies and the experiences of nine diverse cities from across the world, the CCC Framework offers concrete guidance for the range of actors -- city, state, and national governments; creative industry and related private-sector organizations; creatives; culture professionals and civil society-- to harness culture and creativity with a view to boosting their local creative economies and building resilient, inclusive, and dynamic cities.

The report looks at the current state of the creative economy. It examines the evolving definition of the creative economy and its contribution to sustainable development. Based on a 2021 UNCTAD survey, the report shows how countries govern and promote their creative economies and what national strategies and policies they have implemented. The report looks at the latest data on international trade in creative goods and services and finds that trade in creative goods and services generates increasing revenues for countries, with services having a dominant role. The report presents different measurement frameworks for the creative economy, discusses measurement and data challenges, and presents case studies from developing countries. It also discusses how new and emerging technologies, especially increasing digitalization since the COVID-19 pandemic, contribute to fundamentally changing creative industries. As requested by the General Assembly resolution 74/198, the report includes a special section on implementing the International Year of Creative Economy and how it advances the 2030 Agenda. The report notes that the concept and definition of the creative economy are diverse, representing countries' cultural diversity, but also due to different economic structures, statistical methodologies, and classification used. It encourages governments to recognize the importance of the creative economy by conceptualizing it based on existing definitions and classifications. The report highlights the importance for countries to map and measure the creative economy and industries, including their contribution to international trade.

Focusing on artists and creators, this shortform book analyses the labour market in the creative economy in the context of cultural policies. Based on a series of studies involving Polish artists spanning 10 years, the book identifies the key factors needed to understand contemporary labour markets in the creative and cultural sectors worldwide. The authors integrate artists’ perspectives to present truly rounded evidence, shedding light on the applicational perspective of the research findings. Illuminating the socioeconomic status of artists in Poland, this book is essential reading for researchers interested in cultural policy and the creative economy, as well as work and labour studies more broadly. It will also be of interest to practitioners in the creative and cultural industries.