In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030. While the arts and culture are not explicitly mentioned in the 17 SDGs, their influence is woven throughout.
The arts, in their myriad forms, intersect with many of the SDGs, contributing to their realization in unique and impactful ways, including:
- Raising Awareness: Art can make abstract sustainability concepts tangible, evoking emotional responses that facts and figures may not.
- Inspiring Action: The emotional impact of art can motivate viewers to take concrete actions, such as reducing their carbon footprint or advocating for sustainable policies.
- Driving Cultural Shift: Art can help shape a culture that values and prioritizes environmental conservation.
- Catalyzing Community Engagement: Public art installations and workshops centered around sustainability can foster discussions and initiatives aimed at environmental conservation.
- Creating Community Impact: The arts contribute to resilience by fostering identity and connection to others, nurturing relationships, and improving mental health.
According to UNESCO, culture and education are essential for achieving all 17 SDGs. They nurture the skills required to tackle today’s complex challenges by fostering creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
The arts and culture sector can significantly impact community engagement and social cohesion. Participation in the arts can resolve conflicts, reduce isolation, encourage cooperation, and build community networks. This is particularly crucial in communities with low social cohesion, where arts involvement can enhance participation and improve outcomes related to inclusion and health.
These are some of the SDGs directly connected to the arts:
- Arts and Education (SDG 4): Artistic expression fosters XXIc skills, essential for quality education. Integrating arts into the curriculum can make education more engaging and effective, and art can help raise awareness and inspire action towards sustainable living.
- Arts and Gender Equality (SDG 5): The arts provide a platform for marginalized voices, including those of women and girls. They can highlight and address gender equality issues.
- Arts and Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8): The creative industries, encompassing everything from visual arts to music to digital media, are a significant source of employment and economic growth. Supporting these industries promotes inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
- Arts and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10): Art can challenge societal norms, promote social justice, and give voice to the marginalized, fostering empathy and contributing to the reduction of inequalities.
- Arts and Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11): The arts can contribute to the protection and preservation of cultural heritage, an important aspect of sustainable development and the identity of cities and communities. Initiatives that promote the conservation of historical sites, monuments, and cultural practices, as well as cultural tourism, can make cities and communities more inclusive and resilient, safer, and more sustainable.
- Arts and Climate Action (SDG 13): The arts can contribute to environmental sustainability by raising awareness and advocating for environmental issues. Artistic activism can inspire individuals and communities to take action for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The SDGs represent a new way of thinking about development that goes beyond just economic growth. They envision a future that is fair, inclusive, peaceful, and environmentally viable. Achieving these ambitious goals requires innovative methods. Culture and creativity play a role in the economic, social, and environmental areas that must be impacted to achieve the global goals. In return, these areas help protect cultural heritage and promote creativity.
The arts are not just a form of self-expression or aesthetic appreciation; they are a powerful tool for promoting sustainability and addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. By recognizing and supporting the role of art in fostering a more sustainable future, we can collectively address the pressing challenges of our time.
How can you contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through arts and culture in your community?
