ICHCAP

In March 2019, the eighth World Summit on Arts and Culture will take place in Kuala Lumpur, hosted by the National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN), Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Malaysia, in partnership with the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA).

The summit will open with an evening reception in the Perdana Botanical Gardens on Monday, 11 March, followed by three days of keynote speeches, panel discussions, participatory sessions, and workshops that explore the theme Mobile Minds: Culture, Knowledge and Change. The summit will bring together leading policymakers, researchers, managers, and practitioners from the international arts and culture community to address how governments, cultural organizations, creative practitioners, and citizens can—and do—work together to lead change in times marked by profound and ongoing transformation.



Professor Karima Bennoune, UN Special Rapporteur in the Field of Cultural Rights will give the keynote address. In her address, she will challenge delegates to reflect on the current conditions that affect us through the lens of cultural rights, the transmission of knowledge and wisdom, and participation and question what is driving change and to what extent is change global.

The lineup of international speakers, panelists, presenters, provocateurs, facilitators and workshop leaders announced so far includes representatives from more than forty countries, across six continents. Together the participants will identify what drives global change and how it affects the arts and culture sector; they will explore how creative practices respond to change; and they will look at how the international arts and culture community can make tangible change for the future. In the evenings, a cultural program will immerse delegates in the unique local cultures of Malaysia.

In the heart of Southeast Asia, Malaysia is a bridge between continental and island Asia, and a gateway to the region. Its diverse cultural landscape includes three of Asia’s oldest civilizations—Malay, Chinese, and Indian—as well as indigenous communities in Sabah and Sarawak. Kuala Lumpur is a modern and vibrant city that balances contrasts between old and new, with Moorish styled buildings standing shoulder to shoulder with towering skyscrapers. Alongside recent social and political shifts in the country, such diversity and contrast make Malaysia a fitting setting in which to explore issues of culture, knowledge, and change and deepen understanding of the region.

Join us in Kuala Lumpur: lend your voice to global conversations; experience a culture rich with tradition on the cusp of change; and make new connections in Southeast Asia and beyond. More details about this event can be found at artsummit.org.