dots4futures Youth Manifest

open space for contributions

inSight Meeting Manifest – Dots4Futures25

In contribution to the

UNESCO MONDIACULT World Conference on Cultural Policy 2025

We, the participants in the inSight Meeting – Dots4Futures25, convened on the occasion of World Health Day 2025 in Vienna, representing diverse sectors of the creative economy, health, media, and cultural policy, committed to advancing inclusive and equitable societies, hereby:

Recognizing Culture as a Pillar for Sustainable Development

·       Acknowledge the transformative role of arts, culture, and media in fostering inclusion, well-being, peace, and prosperity, particularly for blind and disabled individuals, ensuring their full participation in cultural and social life while broadening career opportunities within the creative industries,

·       Reaffirm that cultural rights must be guaranteed for all—and upheld by all. This requires ensuring accessibility, inclusion, and equitable representation in cultural policymaking at all levels.

·       Stress that cultural diversity and cultural democracy are essential ethical components when considering culture as a stand-alone goal in the post-2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. While such recognition highlights the ethical frameworks for different cultures, it must not come at the cost of overlooking their diverse forms and heritage.

Commitment to Inclusive Cultural Policies

·       Advocate for an inclusive approach that embraces diverse cultural expressions and amplifies underrepresented perspectives, particularly those of blind individuals, who contribute to cultural and artistic narratives through sensational awareness—“by the inner eye”—shaping the judgment of taste through unseen yet profound impacts on well-being and collective cultural identity.

·       Call upon UNESCO, the UN, national governments, and policymakers to prioritize cultural democracy by ensuring diverse and equitable participation in cultural and educational opportunities. Investing in cultural accessibility unlocks social and economic benefits while fostering innovation and cross-cultural dialogue.

·       Propose the establishment of international frameworks to integrate inclusive innovation in arts, media, and policy to combat social isolation and promote well-being, reinforcing the role of culture as a fundamental pillar of sustainable development.

Cultural Rights as a Foundation for Equity and Progress

Understanding and Practicing Culture Through the Prism of Sustainability

Culture is not a static entity but a living force that evolves within the framework of sustainability. It is both a source of identity and a dynamic contributor to the well-being of individuals and societies. To ensure culture remains a driver of sustainable development, we must embrace policies that promote environmental responsibility, social equity, and economic viability within cultural practices.

By integrating culture into sustainability efforts, we reinforce its power to foster resilience, preserve heritage, and inspire innovative solutions to global challenges. Culture must not only be preserved but continuously reimagined in ways that sustain communities, nurture inclusivity, and uphold human rights for generations to come.

Cultural Diplomacy for Sustainable Development

Civil society organizations (CSOs) play a crucial role in advancing cultural diplomacy as an essential component for sustainable development. By fostering international dialogue, cross-cultural exchange, and inclusive policymaking, CSOs bridge gaps between diverse communities, ensuring that cultural rights remain at the forefront of global discussions.

Furthermore, the active engagement of blind individuals in diplomacy and international relations offers a unique and necessary perspective in shaping policies that reflect the full spectrum of human experience. Their insights challenge traditional norms, reinforcing the idea that policymaking must be informed by diverse lived experiences. Acting now, with and within, we enable a future where diplomacy sharpens its vision not only through external observation but through the profound inner eye—where unseen impacts of culture contribute to well-being, peace, and prosperity for all.

United in our vision of a more just, inclusive, and equitable world, we declare that:

·       Cultural rights are human rights. They must be protected, promoted, and integrated across all policies to ensure that everyone can actively participate in shaping cultural narratives and policies regardless of ability.

·       Culture is the mirror of society. If certain voices are missing, society remains incomplete. Blind individuals bring invaluable perspectives that must be recognized, supported, and reflected in global cultural policies.

·       Diplomacy and policymaking must be inclusive. Leaders with disabilities should actively shape international cultural policies, ensuring representation that moves beyond tokenism to meaningful participation.

A Call to Action

We do not seek permission to participate—we claim our rightful space.

We urge UNESCO, the UN, national governments, and cultural and economic institutions to:

·       Ensure cultural democracy by integrating accessibility across health, economic, and cultural sectors, guaranteeing equal opportunities for disabled individuals in education, employment, and leadership roles.

·       Establish pathways for disabled youth in diplomacy, cultural policy, and creative industries, positioning them as architects of change rather than passive beneficiaries.

·       Invest in accessible technologies, inclusive artistic platforms, and cultural programs that combat isolation, empower marginalized communities, and foster creative entrepreneurship.

·       Recognize cultural diversity as an engine for sustainable development, ensuring that economic empowerment through culture leads to dignity, influence, and the ability to shape individual and collective narratives.

Art is our language. Policy is our instrument. Inclusion is our revolution.

Let us build a future where every vision—seen or unseen

—has the power to shape the world.

Composed by Tatjana Christelbauer/AT- ACD-Agency for Cultural Diplomacy President, insight meeting initiator and organizer,

and agreed by inSight meeting well-acts dots4futures25 team members:

1.   Emilie Conway/IR artist, Art therapist, human rights activist, Disable Artists Disable Academics movement initiator (D.A.D.A)

2.   Dr. Luka Martin Tomažič /SLO Alma Mater Europaea Univ.Maribor

3.   Isabella Essl/AT Essl Foundation, Zero Project Inclusive Arts

4.   The BLIND, artist/FR

5.   Tatania Fischer/AT: ÖBV, Braille House Vienna

6.   Mark Klenk “words&deeds”, founder of the NGO “Words and Deeds", the Chairman of Writers at Risk Austria (PEN Club Austria)

7.   Tatjana Christelbauer/AT: ACD-Agency for Cultural Diplomacy President, insight meeting initiator and organizer

Supported by

Amb. Dir Emil Brix

H.E. Ambassador Barbara Cullinane, Ireland's Ambassador to Austria

UNESCO Austria

Place for additional individual statements, please add your own, together with your name, Organisation you represent, country, media page & contact (optional)