UNESCO and Círculo Fortuny, the only organisation renowned internationally for representing luxury Spanish brands, are launching a joint campaign to raise awareness about the need to promote creativity -as a vehicle for change in societies- and the preservation of cultural heritage -which is essential in terms of creating a collective memory.
By sharing the message #Committed to heritage and creativity and the hashtags #patrimonioycreatividad and #heritageandcreativity on social networks, UNESCO and Círculo Fortuny, with the support of JC Decaux, are extending an invitation to play an active role in protecting heritage and fostering creativity. From 12 July, for a month, posters bearing this message will be seen in the streets of Madrid, Valencia, and Barcelona, as well as the main metro stations in Madrid.
Through this project, the Spanish high-end sector, in collaboration with UNESCO, is underlining its commitment to preserving cultural assets and defending intellectual property. Intended to have an international scope, the pilot campaign was launched in 2015 by UNESCO-Comité Colbert with the aim of expanding it to 195 UNESCO Member States within the next five years.
UNESCO works to promote creativity and social development through various programmes, especially within the framework of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. UNESCO boasts numerous legal instruments for protecting cultural heritage, including the World Cultural and Natural Heritage Convention (1972), the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003), and the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (1970).
The purpose of these international conventions is to mobilise people and cultural institutions and reinforce government action as regards recognising the importance of culture, the fight against illicit trafficking, and the destruction of heritage.
For more information: http://www.engages-patrimoine-et-creativite.org/en/
About UNESCO
Established in 1945, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation works to safeguard heritage as a source of identity and cohesion and to foster creativity, which helps to build open, pluralistic, and inclusive societies. Cultural diversity is at the heart of vibrant, innovative, and prosperous knowledge societies. UNESCO is convinced that sustainable development is impossible without incorporating the cultural dimension. (For more information: http://en.unesco.org/themes/protecting-our-heritage-and-fostering-creativity#sthash.94yxwD2k.dpuf)