Recently，UNESCO held an online meeting with more than 130 culture ministers and deputy ministers，Discuss how to support the cultural sector。Due to the new coronavirus epidemic，The cultural field is facing an unprecedented impact。Ministers discuss the impact of current crisis on tourism、Museum、Cultural production and direct influence of artists，And the measures taken by countries to mitigate the impact of the crisis。They reiterated their support for intergovernmental dialogue and international solidarity，In order to strengthen and unite their efforts。

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay opened the conference by reminding participants: “We need culture，So we must help it withstand this impact。We must assess the impact of this crisis，Reflect together，Take coordinated action。UNESCO will firmly fulfill its responsibilities，Play its due role in this process。”

Ministers highlighted the social and economic benefits of the country’s cultural sector，And agreed，We urgently need investment in this sector during and after the crisis。Due to the epidemic，Governments of various countries are forced to adopt travel restrictions and quarantine 188bet app download measures，Seriously limiting people’s access to culture in the short term。If no action is taken，These measures may have lasting impacts on the entire cultural ecosystem for generations to come。

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The vast majority of countries said they have closed their World Heritage sites and cultural institutions，And pointed out the ripple effects of these measures in the country。In fact，As of now，Ninety percent of countries around the world have fully or partially closed their UNESCO World Heritage sites，128 countries have closed their cultural institutions。In addition，Traditional festivals and many other events have also been cancelled，This has had a significant impact on the cultural life of the community and the incomes of workers in the creative industries。Their work is often seasonal，This makes the impact on them even more severe。

In fact，Ministers have pointed out many times，Due to the vulnerability of the cultural field，Artists and creative industry workers are among the hardest hit by this crisis，Many of them are self-employed，Employed by small and medium-sized enterprises，Sometimes work informally。During the meeting，Many ministers stressed，The collapse of cultural life and production has had a devastating impact on the tourism industry。In some countries，More than half of the national economy relies on tourism。Recent data from the World Travel and Tourism Council，75 million tourism industry workers are at risk of unemployment。

Culture is an important part of epidemic response

Several ministers pay tribute to the country’s artists and all cultural 188bet online sports betting workers，Including site managers expressed their respects，Praised their talent、Their contribution to safeguarding cultural access during quarantine and their efforts to raise public awareness of the epidemic through their activities。Virtual Museum、Online platforms such as galleries and libraries ensure access to culture in many parts of the world。Countless musicians、Dancer、Visual artists and writers post their work online。There are also similar initiatives that are ensuring the continuity of arts education activities。Some countries without relevant digital platform infrastructure，Via and TV station、Collaboration between radio stations and print media，Ensuring people have access to culture during this difficult time，Feel the comfort、Happiness and belonging。

Culture is one of the first areas to be affected by this crisis，But it is often the last area to receive budgetary support。In order to solve this practical problem，Many ministers have implemented emergency funding packages in their countries，To protect artists in the short term、Livelihoods of artisans and creative industry workers，For example, commissioning an artist to create a new work，These works often adapt to the new realities of the digital environment。This initiative provides continuous income for individual artists，It also provides the entire society with opportunities to acquire culture。

Although countries are at different stages of the COVID-19 epidemic，But many countries have already begun impact assessments，To simultaneously address short-term impacts and develop long-term 188bet app strategies。For many governments，The promotion of digital technology will be an important part of this strategy。The UAE states: “We must start discussing a fully digital cultural economy，And support cultures that are difficult to translate into the virtual world。”However，As many ministers have pointed out，Culture is also a collective experience of all mankind，Person-to-person contact should be resumed in a timely manner under the premise of safety。

Building broad alliances to support the cultural ecosystem

The sheer number of attendees at this meeting is proof of the need for international solidarity at this moment，This spirit has been widely echoed by ministers。Several other Member States called for the consolidation of the dialogue platform，To share good practice among countries。Some ministers emphasized，Need to establish an international financing mechanism，To support those countries least able to develop their own cultural fields。Enhancing UNESCO’s normative documentation is also listed as a long-term goal，Because this crisis highlights the importance of culture to society and its vulnerability。As Czech emphasized，“Culture is not a luxury，But an integral part of society。”

Many ministers pointed out，The impact of the crisis on the cultural sector should not be underestimated，After these extraordinary measures are lifted，The world will undergo tremendous changes。Sweden calls on culture ministers to "work together to defend open and democratic societies，Enable creators to work freely、Work under fair and safe conditions，And protect and promote artistic 188bet sports betting app download freedom”。Many countries expressed，In the long run，We must adapt to a “new normal”。Mali and other countries pointed out that "this crisis is an opportunity for a global and strategic reflection on culture。” Mexico stated bluntly: “Human beings have always been saved by culture in history，The same will happen this time。”

Ernesto Ottone R, Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO.) reiterated before the end of the meeting: "There is no future without culture"。He concluded: “This meeting demonstrated your huge commitment，UNESCO will continue to support you。We cannot allow the progress made in the cultural field over the past few years to be reversed。via culture，We will build our collective resilience，Culture will bring us closer together。”

*Source of this article: WeChat public account "Voice of Culture and Tourism”(ID:mctgov), author:Voice of Culture and Tourism, original title：《More than 130 culture ministers called for support for the cultural sector in the response to the new coronavirus epidemic》。