HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak inaugurates Culture Summit 2021 with announcement of major study on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cultural and creative industries globally, in partnership with UNESCO

9 March 2021, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) inaugurated Culture Summit 2021 with the announcement of the launch of a major new study which aims to assess the impact of the current pandemic on the cultural and creative industries globally. This study will be conducted by DCT Abu Dhabi in collaboration with UNESCO. The announcement was made alongside Audrey Azoulay, Director General of UNESCO during the opening remarks of Culture Summit 2021, which launched its first virtual edition today, exploring the theme The Cultural Economy and the Economy of Culture.

Commenting on the announcement, HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi said: “For any nation and society to blossom, it is imperative that art and culture are front of mind of its policy- and decision makers. The cultural and creative industries were one of the hardest hit during this pandemic. As part of our ongoing efforts to promote, support and invest in the cultural and creative industries, not just here in Abu Dhabi, but globally, we are proud to be partnering with UNESCO to launch a new global study aiming to assess the impact of COVID-19 on this sector and the social and economic consequences of these impacts on a global level.”

Commenting on the study announced, Audrey Azoulay, Director General of UNESCO said: “To act in response to the crisis, we first need to understand it, to measure it. This is an essential step, a first step, because in many respects, the scope of the crisis makes it difficult to quantify. That is why we decided to launch with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, a global study on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cultural economy. I am delighted to be joining HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, the Department’s Chairman, to officially announce the study.”

Culture Summit, a three-day event, which commenced yesterday and runs until 10 March, will convene more than 100 global experts from fields such as design, heritage, media, public policy, and technology participating in a series of keynote speeches, panel discussions, conversations, case studies, artist talks, performances, film screenings. The summit’s activities are aligned with the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development 2021.

Discussions will explore the post-COVID sector recovery and transformation, envisioning a new system that is more resilient and adaptable to ongoing crises. It will also focus on the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development 2021, with the aim to showcase how the creative economy can advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals in education, economy, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequality, and sustainable cities and communities.

Culture Summit 2021 attendance is free and open to the public.