The city of Barcelona has been chosen to host Mondiacult 2025, marking the third edition of UNESCOs World Cultural Policy Conference and the first time the event will convene in Europe. Spain has formally announced its candidacy, with Ernest Urtasun highlighting the opportunity to position the country at the forefront of global conversations on cultural cooperation. This moment signals a commitment to advancing shared cultural rights, heritage stewardship, and robust museum and public culture discourse on an international stage. The choice was reported by Europa Press and reflected in official communications from the ministries involved.
Officials described Mondiacult 2025 in Spain as a unique platform to shape policy and practice around culture as a public good. The message from the organizers centers on highlighting the essential role of culture in social development and its capacity to foster peaceful coexistence in times of conflict. The Barcelona edition is expected to cover a wide range of topics, including cultural rights, heritage preservation, and museum governance, while examining how culture can contribute to sustainable development and human development goals.
The decision to host Mondiacult 2025 in Europe underscores Spain’s long standing engagement with international cultural diplomacy. The country is stepping into a central role that spans policy thinking, cultural rights advocacy, and global dialogue about how cultural assets are protected, shared, and enjoyed by all. The announcement comes as part of a broader conversation about how culture can be mobilized to respond to social challenges and to strengthen the fabric of communities across the world.
Pedro Sánchez, the head of government, welcomed the UNESCO decision, framing Mondiacult as the main international gathering on cultural policies. The leadership stressed that this event will catalyze international cooperation and the exchange of best practices in cultural governance, education, and access to cultural services for diverse populations. The subsequent discussions with the UNESCO director general in La Moncloa, namely Audrey Azoulay, focused on aligning the Barcelona edition with shared strategic priorities and the practical steps needed to deliver a successful conference. The exchanges reinforced the commitment to collaborative problem solving and the importance of inclusive dialogue among member states and cultural stakeholders.
During bilateral talks, the two sides explored common challenges and the role culture can play in addressing them. One priority highlighted for Mondiacult Barcelona is the topic of artificial intelligence. The conversations pointed to how AI might impact cultural creation, preservation, and access, while also raising questions about ethics, inclusion, and the protection of cultural heritage in the digital era. In this context, the event intends to examine policy responses, governance models, and practical frameworks that ensure AI supports cultural diversity rather than narrowing it. The participants also reaffirmed the central importance of the culture of peace, which forms the backbone of Spain’s candidacy and aligns with UNESCOs broader mission to promote dialogue, understanding, and peaceful coexistence through cultural engagement. [Source: Europa Press; official statements from government and UNESCO representatives]