Culture and Development

Welcome

This site aims to draw together the thinking from Creative Exchange's recent research on culture and development. We have a particular philosophy on culture and development which views culture as a very holistic and multi-dimensional aspect of life, which presents many opportunities for the development sector to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

We consider that this approach to culture is as relevant to the growth and development of communities in developing countries as in industrialised nations - development happens everywhere, and so does culture. Agents of change, be they governments or local councils, NGOs or communities themselves, cannot do anything but engage with culture if they are to create sustainable results.

Here we include the results of some pilot research, funded by the UK’s Department for International Development (Routemapping Culture and Development) as well as extracts from a more detailed publication (Culture: Hidden Development). Both documents can be downloaded or ordered from the Creative Exchange publications page.

Further Sources of Information

Creative Exchange ceased operations in July 2008. A new social network to support ongoing dialogue and discussion on Culture and Development has been set up at http://cultureanddevelopment.ning.com . Information about culture and development may also be found on the following sites:

UNESCO Culture and Development Pages:
http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=35030&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

World Bank Culture and Development Gateway http://culture.developmentgateway.org/

Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation: http://kultureninbewegung.vidc.org/

The Power of Culture: http://www.powerofculture.nl/en

Danish Centre for Culture and Development: http://www.dccd.dk

Free Dimensional – linking artistic communities to social justice http://www.freedimensional.org/

The Communication Initiative (Drum Beat) http://www.comminit.com/drum_beat.html

Culturelink: http://www.culturelink.net/

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