Culture is increasingly recognised as foundational in addressing the interconnected challenges of our era, from climate change to biodiversity loss. At UNESCO’s Mondicult 2025 conference, ministers will position culture at the heart of global sustainability agendas. But what does this mean in practice, and how does it manifest for cultural leaders working on the ground?
A new report by Matthew Rabagliati, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Clore Leadership, in collaboration with the Centre for Mountain Studies at the University of the Highlands and Islands, directly addresses this question. Based on 23 interviews with cultural leaders across rural Estonia, Norway, and Scotland, it shows that communities do not view culture as a distinct “sector.” Instead, culture is part of the very system of meaning through which people understand place, belonging, and change.
