The H&M Foundation's Saamuhika Shakti project (2020-2026) tackles social inclusion in India's textile recycling industry. This initiative empowers informal waste pickers, a marginalized group, by integrating them into the recycling value chain. By treating waste as a valuable resource, Saamuhika Shakti aims to create a more sustainable and equitable circular economy in India's textile sector.
High school students in Uganda are tackling plastic pollution with creativity and business savvy. Through the Asante Africa Foundation's program, they learned leadership and entrepreneurship skills. Now, they're using recycled plastic to create and sell artwork, transforming waste into income. Their "Together as One Initiative" aims not only to clean up their community but also to empower others through education and sustainable solutions.
Although the music sector in Senegal is a promising source of income, the musicians and sound engineers are mostly self-taught. The event and music sectors in the country lack vocational education and training offers. As a result, the quality of products or services within the music industry often lag behind international standards and professionals in the industry do not receive national recognition.
The cultural sector has been severely and persistently affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with museums particularly hard hit: the 2020 UNESCO report estimated that nearly 90%, or an estimated 85,000 institutions, had been closed for varying lengths of time. The role of museums in society is essential, as they are responsible not only for preserving heritage for future generations but also as central actors for promoting lifelong learning and equal access to culture and the dissemination of values on which humanity is based.
Museums have been particularly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly 90% of them, or more than 85,000 institutions worldwide, having closed their doors during the crisis. The impact of these closures is not only economic, but also social. Museums play a vital role in our societies. They not only preserve our common heritage, but also provide spaces that promote education, inspira-tion and dialogue. Based on values of respect and cultural diversity, museums strengthen social cohesion, foster creativity and are conveyors of collective memory.
Digitisation is a must rather than an option and lately digitalised collections have proved themselves to be valuable resources in a crisis. However, the digitisation process often comes with persistent financial difficulties, several legal uncertainties and a clear need of adequate skill development. Based on its survey findings, NEMO and its Working Group Digitalisation and IPR offer recommendations to EU policy makers on the one hand, and to national museum organisations and museums on the other hand, to help museums on their way to digitalised collections.
This survey was answered by 600 museums from 48 countries between 30 October and 29 November 2020, the majority coming from Europe. It follows NEMO’s initial survey, report and recommendations about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on museums from May 2020 during the first lockdown and sought to investigate the different themes that emerged in the first survey and which have been discussed in the museum community. The themes are: 1. Consequences of income (and other) losses; 2. The increased importance of digital museum offers; 3.
The OECD-ICOM Guide for Local Governments, Communities and Museums provides a self-assessment framework for i) Local and regional governments to assess and improve their approaches to maximise the social and economic value of cultural heritage as part of sustainable local development; and ii) museums to assess and strengthen their existing and potential linkages with the local economy and social fabric.
This case study considers the role of the MUSE network of museums for local development in the Autonomous Province of Trento, Italy. It considers the dimensions of local development featured in the OECD-ICOM Guide for Local Governments, Communities and Museums.
This Guide provides a roadmap for local governments, communities and museums on how to define together a local development agenda. It considers five dimensions: 1. Leverage the power of museums for local economic development, 2. Build on the role of museums for urban regeneration and community development, 3. Catalyse culturally aware and creative societies, 4. Promote museums as spaces for inclusion, health and well-being, 5. Mainstream the role of museums in local development.
