2.
Strategic Rationale for Culture
1
Convention for the Protection and Promotion of a Diversity of Cultural Expressions (UNESCO, 2005). See full text at: https://en.unesco.
org/creativity/convention.
2
A New Narrative for Europe - The EESC resolution on the Conference on the Future of Europe (European Economic and Social Committee,
2021). See full text at: https://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/our-work/publications-other-work/publications/new-narrative-europe-eesc-
resolution-conference-future-europe
UNESCO (2005)1 argues that placing culture at the heart of
our strategies is both the condition for enabling sustainable
development and a powerful driving factor for its achievement.
UNESCO asserts that:
→Culture, encompassing both heritage (tangible
and intangible) and the creative industries, plays
a critical role in urban and rural societies and
is integral to their identity while underpinning
their dynamism.
→Cultural and creative industries can be vital
catalysts of development and renewal as they
provide access to employment, introduce
contemporary vibrancy, enhance a society’s
identity and help create more attractive places
where to live, work, invest and visit.
→A heritage-driven urban and cultural policy also
contributes to the mitigation of, and adaptation
to, climate change, as conserving the existing
fabric (built with traditional techniques and local
materials and skills) is more environmentally
friendly than demolishing and reconstructing it.
Similarly, the European Commission2 sets out
the vital role culture plays in local development,
not least in ‘closing the opportunity gap’ between
different parts of Europe. The European Union is:
Fundamentally a political and cultural project based on
strong humanist values. The fact is that the tapestry of
European history, the rich diversity of European culture
and Europe’s reserves of creativity are some of the
strongest cards we hold when it comes to building a
prosperous European future. It is with new ideas, new
concepts and new projects that we will rise to the
challenges facing us to make our future a reality. And
that’s why the European Commission defends a Europe
that invests in culture, in education, in research and
innovation. These are investments in future growth, jobs
and social cohesion.
A New Narrative for Europe (EESC, 2013)
Each region of the Maltese Islands has a distinctive
and diverse cultural asset base. All the regions have
a strong heritage landscape, often conceptualised
in terms of historic buildings, feasts, band clubs and
traditional approaches to music, crafts, agriculture
and cuisine. These cultures are often linked to specific
places – villages, towns, even neighbourhoods. Each
region has a fascinating and, in some cases, dynamic
contemporary cultural landscape – through the talent
base of the people, the energy of the communities and
through the fresh perspectives an increasingly diverse
population brings. The opportunity now is to recognise
and celebrate these cultural assets, to be frank and
open about gaps and challenges, and to develop a
strategic process where culture can play a starring role
in the social, economic and environmental futures of
the regions of the Maltese Islands.
16
North Regional Cultural Strategy