General Conference Twenty-ninth Session, Paris 1997 THE UNIVERSAL FORUM OF CULTURES - BARCELONA 2004 OUTLINE

Transcription

1 General Conference Twenty-ninth Session, Paris C 29 C/58 26 September 1997 Original: Spanish Item 12.2 of the provisional agenda THE UNIVERSAL FORUM OF CULTURES - BARCELONA 2004 OUTLINE This document is submitted by Spain, which has proposed the inclusion of item 12.2 on the provisional agenda of the twenty-ninth session of the General Conference.

2 29 C/58 I. INTRODUCTION BARCELONA PROPOSES THE UNIVERSAL FORUM OF CULTURES Barcelona proposes that the Universal Forum of Cultures be held in 2004, as a new event on a world scale, convened by a city under the auspices of UNESCO. This initiative has the support of the Autonomous Government of Catalonia and of the Government of Spain. This initiative, which draws on the principles and resolutions of UNESCO, is proposed as a gathering and celebration centred on the following three themes: the conditions of peace, the city and sustainable development, and cultural diversity. The Universal Forum of Cultures, which will be organized by a Committee with its own legal personality, will be similar to existing major world events, and will be open to all categories of visitors, offering facilities that will include a range of formats: International debates and meetings Exhibitions in enclosed areas Live performances Specific television programmes and products The award of international prizes. In order to ensure that the Universal Forum of Cultures can take place simultaneously all over the world from the year 2001 onwards, a Virtual Forum will be created which will facilitate global interactivity on both content and activities. Barcelona s proposal to organize the Universal Forum of Cultures in the year 2004 is based on convergence with the objectives of UNESCO in the search for universal values. Barcelona will contribute its acknowledged experience in the organization of complex events on a world scale, such as the Olympic Games held in It is also a city well known for a significant degree of social cohesion and voluntary activity. The proposal relies on the support of all the decision-makers represented on the City Council, thereby highlighting the involvement of civil society and economic actors in the project. II. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: DEFINITION AND CONTENT SLOGAN AND CONTENT OF THE FORUM Slogan For the Universal Forum of Cultures of Barcelona, a slogan and a subtitle are proposed which will convey the universal and open character of the invitation: Cultures for peace Nations, regions, cities, religions, the arts, sport and science - all working together for the culture of peace

3 29 C/58 - page 2 Content The content of the Forum will be UNESCO s areas of concern, derived from its major programmes: Education, Science, Culture, Communication. The Barcelona 2004 event will focus its attention on the following themes: Peace, Environment, Culture. AREAS OF THE FORUM: A CULTURE OF PEACE IN A SUSTAINABLE CITY On the basis of the themes proposed for the Universal Forum of Cultures, Barcelona 2004, these will be developed in five areas of activity, on the following pattern: Programme pattern The Forum will be developed and presented on the following basis: Main exhibitions, produced by the organizers of the Forum in the shape of thematic displays in outstanding buildings (the Palace of Peace, the Palace of the Cities and the Palace of Cultures). Group exhibitions, produced by the participants in the form of monographic displays in shared buildings. Interested participants will also be able to put on their own exhibitions in individual buildings, provided that these are not in the form of official national pavilions. Meetings and debates, of an international character, including the preparation of declarations and documents. Live cultural and artistic events. Major leisure activities in enclosed areas (new cinematographic formats, play areas, live performances, etc.). Events broadcast worldwide (international conferences, macroconcerts, etc.). Production of materials and resources (publishers, multimedia). International gatherings, projects and proposals. International Prizes of the Forum. AREA 1: CONDITIONS OF PEACE This area is designed to make innovative suggestions on reflection and action for peacebuilding. The basic thrust will consist in consolidating, making more specific and strengthening the existing lines of approach to the construction of a culture of peace and ensuring that the various perceptions of a culture of peace are widely known, broadcast and experienced.

4 29 C/58 - page 3 Events connected with the international years and decades proclaimed by the United Nations system: international meetings; training course. Main exhibition: Conditions of Peace. Group exhibitions: Options of peace; Learning for freedom; democracy; etc. Debates: Conflicts and the basic features of their prevention, origins, mediation and resolution; Racism; Identity-globalization; etc. Planned activities: Events connected with international days and weeks proclaimed by the United Nations system. Post-Forum Establishment of a research institute for conflict prevention and mediation (foundation, university or non-governmental research centre). AREA 2: CITIES AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Four work topics are proposed: the city as ecosystem; sustainable behaviour and sustainable technology; models of urbanization and urban planning; conflicts and life in the city, a contribution to the conditions of peace. Link the preparations for the Forum to the major international issues. For example: congresses of the International Union of Local Authorities (IULA), Metropolises and the World Climate Programme (already agreed, to be held in Barcelona in 1999). Main exhibition: Constructing the city; Different models of cities around the world. Group exhibits: The new environmental generation of products and services; Sustainable behaviour beyond technology; Cities and nature; etc. Debates: Proposal: to hold the third World Summit in Barcelona; Other possible topics: Global change in the environment; New forms of and proposals for housing; Ethics and politics of sustainability; Industry, technology and sustainable development; etc. Post-Forum Establishment of a permanent observatory to monitor urban development; Reinforcement of the videotex co-ordination network linking metropolitan areas; 2004 Barcelona Statement on sustainable development.

5 29 C/58 - page 4 AREA 3: CULTURE AND CREATION This theme will be developed around the concept of culture as a reflection of ongoing creative activity and innovation; as collective memory, being at the same time a source of ideas, democratic values and a culture of sustainability; as an economic sector and as a catalyst for the harmonious development of society. Proposals: to hold a follow-up meeting to the Intergovernmental Conference on Culture and Development held in Stockholm; to celebrate a world event in the context of the International Decade of the World s Indigenous People and, possibly, to develop the plans for Barcelona, European City of Culture in the Year 2001 (official candidacy submitted to the European Union). Main exhibition: Creativity worldwide. Group exhibitions: History of migrations and future trends; The world s great thoroughfares; Language map of the world; The cultural heritage of humanity; etc. Debates: Globalization and cultural identity; Multicultural cities and societies in the twenty-first century; Culture and world economy; International co-operation in the service of development and the heritage; World congress on languages; etc. Forum of the Arts and live events: The purpose will be to promote the holding of live events which will project the image of the Forum and universal culture to the whole world and attract visitors from among the general public. Possible projects include: grand festival of world music; synchronous concert; international photography exhibition; international drama festival. Planned activities: World sailing competition; World festival of traditional games and sports; International gastronomic festival; World handicrafts market. AREA 4: INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES The interconnections of the three major themes (peace, cities and sustainable development, and culture) call for maximum consistency between the form and the content of the Forum. For this reason, an interdisciplinary area is being proposed, to be developed at the following three levels: Cities and sustainable development + Cultures and creation Consolidation of Local Agenda 21 (environment) in Barcelona; World meeting of experts on the contribution of religions to a culture of sustainability; Meeting on globalization, urbanization and urban ecology; etc.

6 29 C/58 - page 5 Main exhibition: Biodiversity and human adaptation. Additional exhibitions: Traditional knowledge and management for the preservation of biodiversity; Urban ecology; etc. Debates: Cultural diversity and biodiversity; Multicultural cities and societies in the twenty-first century; Urban social transformations and management of the urban environment; Sustainable tourism and intercultural dialogue; Urbanism and multicultural cities; etc. Cities and sustainable development + Conditions of peace Reinforcement of NGO initiatives on peace topics; Development of courses and educational materials for schools; Creation of a world network of cities for peace and sustainable development; etc. Main exhibition: The role of cities in the construction of peace. Additional exhibitions: Environmental co-operation and sustainable technologies in the construction of a culture of peace. Debates: Urbanization and rural exodus in a world on the move; Migrations, scarcity of resources and peace; etc. Conditions of peace + Cultures and creation Seminars on multiculturalism and civic peace; Meeting of NGO continental networks for peace, development and human rights; Proposal for a UNESCO meeting on the contribution of religions to a global ethic; etc. Main exhibition: The media and the building of a culture of peace. Additional exhibitions: The impact of wars on the cultural heritage; etc. Planned activities: Publication of the declaration on the contribution of religions to a global ethic; Creation of a monument to peace; etc. Debates: Cultural diversity and world democracy: the reform of the United Nations; Cultural rights as human rights; Freedom, independence and plurality of the international system of communications; The clash of civilizations; etc.

7 29 C/58 - page 6 AREA 5: VIRTUAL FORUM The Barcelona 2004 Forum includes the concept of communication in which democratization and plurality must of necessity underlie information processes, especially in the consolidation of a culture of peace. The Forum will deal with communication from the ideological and methodological point of view and will make access to it possible. For that reason, the Virtual Forum is proposed for Barcelona The basic purpose of the Virtual Forum is globalization of the Forum s messages so that the Forum can also be a worldwide event not confined to its physical location, owing to the use of videotex networks and television. Four major lines of work are proposed: Encouraging active participation in the Forum both in the run-up period ( ) and while it is being held. Establishing a mass audience mechanism to promote both the dissemination of the Forum and its subject-matter. Providing audiovisual and videotex support. Producing and distributing multimedia and videotex products and services. The aim is not so much to retransmit the Forum on the Internet (or the existing network) as to provide a structure that will take the Forum beyond physical confines, and will be functionally autonomous but related to the subject-matter of the event. Videotex networks proposed: Forum outstations: Encourage the establishment of a worldwide network of communicators (individuals or groups). Virtual participation by the public: Expand a project co-ordinating virtual participation by the public in debates, seminars, resolutions, etc. First World Summit on Global Connectivity and Electronic Democracy: Meeting of physical or virtual Internet surfers from all over the world to discuss the problems, advantages and future challenges of cyberspace navigation. Directory of Internet directories: UNESCO, as a neutral world authority and with the Forum s support, could compile a directory of multilingual directories for the Internet. This directory could be physically located in Barcelona and might be called the Hypatia Project (after the person in charge of the Ancient Library of Alexandria). Promotion of products for television only: Production of programmes for television viewers: through conventional media and formats.

8 29 C/58 - page 7 Production of programmes for television channels: as a means of disseminating subjectmatter specific to the Forum with the objectives of promotion and providing information. Production of customized television programming: for countries or geographical areas where this would be possible, the Forum will encourage customized or pay per view television services and products. Special Forum events: Opening and closing ceremonies (the two major ceremonies of the Forum) Commemorative days (which will be determined in conjunction with the participating organizations and in the light of the values championed by the Forum) The Forum s specialized and sectoral seminars (along thematic lines of emphasis) Major entertainments (grand concerts, traditional sports meetings, etc.) Events promoted by the United Nations (as identified in the various areas) Linkage with existing major world events (such as major international prizes in culture or the performing arts). International Prizes of the Forum The Universal Forum of Cultures, together with UNESCO, will inaugurate the award of the International Forum Prizes, which will be presented for the first time during the Forum. The Forum Prizes will be awarded by an international jury for each of the three main themes around which the event is organized: Culture of Peace and Solidarity Prizes Cities and Sustainability Prize Cultures and Creativity Prizes III. ORGANIZATIONAL ASPECTS Participants It is hoped that all the various cultures of the world will participate in the Barcelona Forum 2004 and the first step taken by the Forum and UNESCO will be to approach all the Organization s Member States and Associate Members in order to interest them in this proposed new world event. We are also hoping to attract territorial institutions (states, regions, cities), supranational institutions (United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations, religious organizations, major business corporations), associations concerned (NGOs, social and youth movements and others) and interested individuals.

9 29 C/58 - page 8 The Forum s organizing committee and UNESCO will request states to participate on an official basis in the international programme of lectures, debates and world summits, and in the programme of cultural activities and performances. The Barcelona Forum 2004 will not take the form of an international exhibition regulated by the 1928 International Convention concerning international exhibitions, and as it is not an international exhibition countries will not be invited to take part by the Spanish Government as they would have been for an international exhibition subject to regulation by the International Exhibitions Bureau. It is hoped to attract over 150,000 participants, 25 million individual visits, 400 million contacts through telecommunications networks and a very high number of television viewers. Sites and installations The city of Barcelona will be the event s central location. There will also be a theme park which will be the Forum s heart, containing the essence of all its activities. All the equipment provided for the Forum will continue to be of use after it is finished. Activities will be spread over different sites, and visitors will be able to buy a multiple entry ticket for admission both to the theme park and to the other locations. The Forum s heart: The Peninsula The Forum s heart will be a new urban area partially reclaimed from the sea and located to the east of the city, along the Besós River. It will have a surface area of some 75 hectares divided between the municipal authorities of Barcelona and Sant Adría de Besós. It will contain: the central group exhibition halls the individual pavilions of authorized participants a multiple-use facility (for meetings, congresses and debates) an auditorium (indoor cultural events) the agora (open-air cultural events) play and service areas. Sites for additional facilities Surrounding the Peninsula are the urban areas of Parque de Sant Andreu, Parque de Diagonal Mar and Can Zam. These additional areas might offer such facilities as: the broadcasting centre the main press centre the virtual platform the City of Art, or residential area for participants the Youth Camp, or residential area for young participants. Other facilities in the urban centre Barcelona auditorium Ciudad del Teatro (Theatre City)

10 29 C/58 - page 9 Barcelona Contemporary Culture Centre (CCCB) University campuses Miró Foundation Barcelona Contemporary Art Museum (MACBA) Tàpies Foundation Gran Teatro del Liceo. National Museum of Art of Catalonia (MNAC) La Pedrera Palau Sant Jordi Palau de la Música Catalana Olympic Stadium Barcelona Fair National Theatre of Catalonia Arrangements will also be made to work with the main facilities and entities of the metropolitan area of Barcelona, for example the Auditorio de Sant Cugat del Vallès or the Palau Olímpic of Badalona or the Hospitalet Tecla Sala site. Subsidiaries: It will be borne in mind that some of the Forum s activities may also be hosted by other communities. Period covered A period of 150 days is proposed which will have to fall between 3 April and 17 October. Specifically, the period from 1 May to 3 October 2004 is being considered. Preparations The process of deciding on the activities to be organized and of setting the project on course for 2004 might be scheduled as follows: 1998 Preparation of the activities to be organized for the Forum 1999 Finalization of the functional arrangements and layout of facilities 2000 Monitoring of the feedback from the major events to celebrate the millennium (including the European Cities of Culture, the Hanover Universal Exhibition, the Rome Jubilee, the Paris Festival, the London-Greenwich Millennium, etc.) 2001 Finalization of the programme and start on construction work (Barcelona a candidate for title of European City of Culture) Pre-Forum period 2004 UNIVERSAL FORUM OF CULTURES 2004 Post-Forum period Submission of the Forum to the General Conference at its twenty-ninth session A draft resolution will be submitted to the General Conference at its twenty-ninth session welcoming the Universal Forum of Cultures and agreeing that UNESCO, at the invitation of the

11 29 C/58 - page 10 Forum s organizers, should be the main partner in the event. The framework and the necessary financial resources will be provided by the organizers of the Forum, with the result that the funding will be entirely external to UNESCO and involve no financial implications for it. The collaboration sought of UNESCO is support in defining and developing the objectives of the Forum, and in establishing the necessary contacts with possible participants. The draft resolution would approve UNESCO's association with the Forum and authorize the Director-General to carry out all the preparatory activities for it, and for the conclusion of a Framework Agreement for co-operation between UNESCO and the Forum s organizers that would specify the forms of their co-operation and be submitted to the Executive Board at one of its forthcoming sessions.