Cultural diversity

Australia is a party to the UNESCO Convention that covers cultural diversity.

International cultural collaboration provides the opportunity for Australia to take its unique cultural diversity to the world.

It also gives local audiences and cultural practitioners access to a diversity of cultural expressions and experiences.

UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions

The UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions promotes respect and dialogue between cultures and recognises the importance of protecting the diversity of cultural expressions that exist around the world.

On 23 September 2009 the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts announced that Australia had become a party to the Convention.

The Convention affirms the right of state parties to protect and promote a diversity of cultural expressions. It recognises the value of cultural goods, services and activities as carriers of meaning and identity and their integral role in sustainable cultural and economic development.

The Convention also promotes international dialogue and cooperation in protecting cultural expressions, particularly those in immediate danger or at risk of extinction.

Under the Convention, Australia is required to report every four years to the Intergovernmental Committee on measures taken to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions in its territory and at the international level.

The International Fund for Cultural Diversity was established under the Convention. The Convention's Intergovernmental Committee allocates funding to specific projects, programs or activities that further the aims of the Convention.

Resources and information on the Convention

• The full text of the Convention is on the UNESCO website
• 10 keys to the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (PDF - 5.5 MB) 
• Australia becomes a party to UNESCO Convention on cultural diversity (PDF 39KB)
• Australian Government funding to UNESCO to support cultural diversity