inSight meeting follow-up dots4futures 25

 

Cultural Diplomacy 2030 …

InSight_Well acts

 

 

Inclusion &Diversity in Policy &Action:

 Arts_Health_Wellbeing

 

on the World Health Day

 

7^{th -} 8^th of April 2025

 

 Vienna,

live streaming

 

Addressing current mental health issues,

caused by loneliness, social isolation, economic challenges

Exploring Creative Industries as drivers for change

 

 

Growing Concern: 13% of adolescents across 23 European countries report feeling lonely.

Anxiety and depression are the most common mental illnesses in Europe - more than half (55%) of all mental illnesses are related to anxiety or depression (for girls it is even more than 70%). According to the results of an international survey conducted
by UNICEF and the Gallup Institute, in 21 countries in the summer of 2021, 19 percent of young people between the ages of 15 and 24 often feel depressed. 

 

Country Disparities, Gender-specific, and diversity challenges: Loneliness levels vary significantly, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions.

An estimated 2.2 billion people are visually impaired worldwide.

According to research, visually impaired people experience loneliness differently than the general population. Brunes et al. (2019) conducted a large-scale study on 736 visually impaired and blind participants in Norway and found that their loneliness was greater, and more intense, than that of the general population. Vision loss often results in significant disability and is associated with a substantial economic burden, reduced quality-of-life, concurrent medical issues, loneliness, and mental health problems. Social City Vienna  platform against loneliness and social isolation brings together the numerous collaborations, initiatives and bodies of knowledge on this cross-sectional topic that is relevant to the future in Austria. In 2020, Caritas Austria established the Plaudernetz (Chatnet), a simple, easy-to-use way to find someone to talk to in times of loneliness. 

Vienna House of the United Nations UN DIN is an independent and dynamic collective of UN personnel based in Vienna. Our members include staff living with disabilities, colleagues with family members who have disabilities, and those committed to learning about and promoting disability inclusion. The network spans across various Vienna-based UN organizations (VBOs) and aims to create a welcoming, inclusive work environment for all employees.

In 2016,  the Jo Cox Comission of Loneliness was established with the aim to investigate ways to reduce loneliness in the United Kingdom. 

In Dublin, Ireland, the D.A.D.A. campaign started by celebrated artist and human rights activist Emilie Conway stands for Disabled Artists & Disabled Academics attesting to the coterie Emilie’s “speaking up” attracted to her over the past year. DADA’s mission is to achieve greater equity for disabled people by pointing out and challenging barriers to full participate and contribution to the arts, culture, economy and whole of society. 

 

Arts4Health: Art practice enables interactive, participative, and integrative learning opportunities, and supports health in general, and well-being through multi-sensorial experiences and a variety of expressional forms. The first comprehensive report on evidence of Arts for health has been launched by the World Health Organisation Europe (WHO) in 2019 

 

The cultural and creative sector accounts for 3.1 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) as of 2022  according to a recent report by UNESCO. This rapidly growing sector generates nearly 30 million jobs worldwide and accounts for 6.2 percent of all employment.

The creative and cultural sector can serve as a powerful means of advocacy, empowerment, and social inclusion, especially for marginalized and vulnerable communities. Several studies have shown that an arts education has a positive effect on the self-esteem of at-risk youth and enhances their resilience. It also enables those struggling with mental health and social issues to build relationships and engage positively with others in their communities. 

(Source: World Bank Blog)

Creative industries account for more than 10% of all Austrian enterprises (around 42,000) and for 3.8% of the gross value added - almost as important as tourism with 4%! They are one of the Austrian growth drivers, having generated a total revenues growth between 2008 and 2016 of 21% (overall economy: 8%) and an employment growth of 16% (overall economy: 7%). With 91% of the creative companies being innovation active, 75% contributing to product or service innovations and 44% dealing with new business models, the creative industries are a key innovation driver for the Austrian economy.^ 

Austrian Zero Project runs initiatives for inclusive employment, such as events and publications. The Zero Project seeks innovative forms of art and expression worldwide that allow people with disabilities to actively participate in the arts and realize their full potential. The Essl Foundation supports inclusive art projects.

 

Guiding questions, thinking with cultural diversity 

 

How are health and well-being supported through arts & cultural practice,

and 

what experiences and examples can be found in the practice of professionals with disabilities?

 

What potential for change can be found in the sector of creative industries?

 

How is Human Rights Activism practiced by artists with disabilities,  particularly, persons with visual impairment?

 

How is freedom of artistic expression experienced by people with disabilities?  

 

What role can AI and new media technologies play in the empowerment and inclusion of persons with disabilities? 

 

Multilateral collaboration: What supporting networks and initiatives are established and how are the engaged leaders and teams supported by the local/national/international entities?  

 

Loneliness

is a pervasive issue affecting individuals across various demographics, and recent research highlights the particular challenges faced by blind and visually impaired youth in Europe.

According to a comprehensive study conducted by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre in 2021, loneliness and social isolation have been identified as significant concerns among blind youth and non-blind in the region. Collaborative initiatives that bring together blind and non-blind youth present a promising avenue for reducing loneliness.

Engaging in joint activities, both virtual and in-person, can create meaningful connections and foster a sense of belonging. 

It is important to reflect on the nature of economic growth and the need to better capture the different dimensions of social progress, including economic activity, social and cultural well-being, and sustainability. The European Pillar of Social Rights tries to pave the way towards fair and well-functioning labor markets and social protection systems. Access to social protection for those in need should be ensured while making sure that everyone can participate in economic, social, political, and cultural developments. 

Recognizing the significant global economic and social contributions of the cultural and creative sector—also known as the “orange economy, the impact of art and cultural practices on health & well-being, and the potential of AI and digital tools to increase the accessibility to arts and cultural practices with an inclusive approach, this meeting seeks to inspire the development of collaborative networks, sharing and further co-developing innovative practices, and actionable solutions toward justice, equity, and dignity for all.

 

Thinking disability through the prism of interaction

 

The World Health Organization updated and adopted the most progressive definition of disability in its history.

According to the International Classification of Functioning and Health, disability is defined as a

 “interaction between an individual and the environment.”

 

This is a paradigmatic shift away from regarding disability as a static, physical, and/or mental disease towards an acknowledgment of disability as a highly individualized, lived experience that is profoundly influenced by social participation.

 

“Bringing the arts into human life through activities such as dancing, singing, visiting museums and concerts offers a new dimension in terms of improving physical and mental health,”

 

Dr. Piroska Östlin, acting WHO Regional Director for Europe.

(WHO Europe Report Art&Health 2019)

 

Context:

Grounded in the ACD-concept of Cultural Diplomacy2030, while underlining the importance of the inclusive engagement of diverse actors at a cross-generational scale, and including the gender perspective & cultural diversity as the most relevant in the compliance process toward a more just and peaceful world & life with & within, the hosting organizer of the meeting, ACD-Agency for Cultural Diplomacy opens new space for dialogues and collaboration, while connecting their established action platforms, such as the artImpact2030 and the dots4futures, both aimed in promoting art-based practices on the interface with science and policy, with the European and Global inclusive approach, within the ethical frame of the UN Agenda2030.

The EU is committed to supporting and promoting culture as an essential contribution to human rights and a key element of good governance, inclusion, and sustainable growth.´ ^[4] inclusive, people-centered, and context-relevant approach."^[2]

 

Understanding culture through the prism of its diverse situated and embodied  expressional forms grounded in humans' need to express, understand, and communicate their interaction with and within diverse environments and framing the cultural practices and freedom of (artistic) expression within the UN 17 SDGs,

the InSight platform and meetings are aimed at providing space for intercultural dialogue and engagement of diverse individuals and communities, without pointing out one particular "mainstream culture or artistic style of expression", which is perceived as exclusive when not associated with the 17 UN SDGs and Human Rights Delaration´s main ethical aspect: DIGNITY-environmental, human and planetary dignity.

 

Practicing, communicating, understanding, and promoting arts and cultural practices can therefore be perceived as a way to understand the term "dignity" as a way of acting and acting toward, with, &within,

without causing harm, and damage,

but with awareness about the next,

be it a human, nature, or other species.  

 

Thinking with these premisses, the cultural policy may be included within all other policies and also include the aspects from all other policies, as culture can not be separated from health, wellbeing, ecology, peace, and justice when practiced with consciousness about its functional relational impact.  

 

UNESCO's Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity report highlights the potential of art-based methods to create mutual understanding and advance global partnerships.

Cultural diversity in its broadest sense, encompasses not only different cultural backgrounds but also diverse abilities, experiences, needs, and interests. 

 

Multilateral partnerships and global Networks & new media technologies for good:

UNESCO emphasizes the need to leverage AI ethically in cultural contexts, ensuring equitable access and representation in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Policies stress the role of inclusive digital platforms in fostering global dialogue. UN and EU strategies on cultural diplomacy stress the importance of empowering CSOs to connect diverse communities.

UNESCO policy lab: “Various movements, including those seeking gender, climate, and economic justice need to coalesce to pressure for eco-social welfare (Jones and O’Donnell, 2018). At every level, whether in ideas, language, or imagination, collective mobilization, and inclusive participation are needed to build our transformative power.´ ^[3] The role of culture as an enabler and driver of sustainable development was acknowledged by the international community at MONDIACULT 2022 convened by UNESCO, the largest world conference devoted to culture. For the first time, culture was recognized as a “global public good”. States made a strong call for culture to be included “as a specific objective in its own right” among the next United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

 

Inclusive, diversity-aware policy & its implementation:

Inclusive thinking and practice at cross-sectoral and cross-policy scales recognize diversity awareness as a foundational principle for fostering a just and equitable society. Ensuring accessibility and creating opportunities for engagement that transcend social, economic, physical, or mental barriers are essential to building cohesive, inclusive communities where everyone can thrive.

 

arts_health_wellbeing: Health culture 2030 …

through art is a cornerstone of cultural policy promoted by UNESCO and the European Union, emphasizing its role in fostering diversity and inclusion.

UNESCO’s programs, such as the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, advocate for artistic freedom as essential to pluralism and intercultural dialogue. Similarly, the EU supports initiatives like Creative Europe, which funds projects that celebrate diverse voices and ensure equitable participation in cultural life. Together, these frameworks protect artists’ rights while promoting creativity to bridge cultural divides and enhance mutual understanding. 

Artistic freedom of expression and human rights activism intersect as powerful tools for amplifying marginalized voices, including those of individuals with disabilities, such as the visually impaired. Art enables these voices to challenge societal barriers and reimagine inclusion, transforming public perceptions and fostering empathy, but also advocate for the rights of diverse individuals to access and contribute to cultural life. According to the EU-Poliocy Brief on Arts, Culture, and Mental Health (2023), an inclusive, life-course perspective that promotes the Arts and Culture for improving well-being has the potential to generate the most significant societal and mental health advantages. It is essential for both preventing and reducing risks associated with the growing mental health challenges we face.

These frameworks, while instrumental, gain meaning through the people who engage with them—writers, artists, policymakers, activists, and audiences.

 

Preliminary Agenda

 

Presentations on the nexus of arts, science, and policy- cross-cutting: culture, health, inclusion&diversity

Each presentation will include an engaging, interactive sequence for all attendees

 

7th-8th April 2025

9.30 am -5pm CET 

 

Welcoming session

 

Welcoming words: TBA (Health Policy, Inclusion&Diversity) governmental representatives

 

Presentations, interactive workshops

Art Exibition, Performances 

City guide

Reception

Venues: TBA

 

Keynote:

Ms. Emilie Conway

a vocal jazz artist from Ireland, a founding artist of the DADA movement[1]

 

Dr. Erica Tandory,

art_scientists /AU, Monash University& Dr Stu Favilla, Swinburne University/AU

 

Selina Scerry MA & Dot. Angelo Dalli

"Tomorrow´s Blossoms" fine arts, AI /It, /MLT

 

Mark Klenk

Words&Deeds: "Poetry with persons at risk" US/AT

 

Tatjana Christelbauer MA /ACD, AT

organizer, moderator, art_science practitioner

“dots4futures platform”, "Orange Feather alert" thought experiment

 

Dr. Luka Martin Tomažič /SLO

"Freedom of Artistic Expression: Human Rights and Integrity"

 

inTalk with attendees:

Networks and Campaigns of personnel with disabilities of the UN organizations and civil society

Collection of quotes, cultural policy recommendations, composing the final statement … connecting dots4futures

 

Reception, rounding up, opening new windows for collaboration …

 

 

Sources, Research papers: 
Loneliness EU platform info: https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/jrc-news-and-updates/monitoring-and-tackling- loneliness-europe-released-data-first-eu-wide-survey-2023-06-06_en
Loneliness project webpage: https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/scientific-activities-z/loneliness/eu-loneliness- survey_en 
https://europepmc.org/article/pmc/pmc8267375
Loneliness research, results: https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC125873 https://europepmc.org/article/MED/34639809#free-full-text https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC128731
Blind & visually impaired:
Ami Rokach A, Berman D, Rose A. Loneliness of the Blind and the Visually Impaired. Front Psychol. 2021 Jun 25;12:641711. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.641711. PMID: 34248743; PMCID: PMC8267375.
Front Psychol. 2021; 12: 641711. Published online 2021 Jun 25. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.641711 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8267375/

 

Austria: Social city Wien: https://gesundheitsziele.wien.gv.at/plattform-gegen-einsamkeit-in-oesterreich/ ; 
Caritas: https://www.caritas-wien.at/ueber-uns/news-presse/information/news/93188-wie-einsam-ist-oesterreich- caritas-und-magenta-praesentieren-neue-sora-studie-und-ziehen-bilanz-zu-projekt-plaudernetz/ 

 

References 
1. Hawkley, L. C., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2010). Loneliness matters: a theoretical and empirical review of consequences and mechanisms. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 40(2), 218–227. 
2. World Health Organization. (2019). "What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? A scoping review." 
3. European Commission. (2020). "Pathways to School Success: Key Findings from the Wellbeing Module of the 2018 European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD)." 
4. European Commission, Joint Research Centre. (2021). "Loneliness and social isolation in the European Union." Retrieved from https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/publication/loneliness-and-social-isolation-european- union_en 
5. UN Women Policy Brief 2023: No Woman Left Behind: Closing the Gender and inclusion gap in Eye Health: Why improving women’s eye health is essential to achieving the SDGs: 
6. https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2023-09/policy-brief-closing-the-gender-and-inclusion-gap-in-eye- health-en.pdf 

 

Good practices:
Noneliness: a gamified mobile app. https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/Noneliness%20App%20Presentation.pdf

UK: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5851382/
EU: Building a Union of Equality: https://state-of-the-union.ec.europa.eu/state-union-2022/state-union-achievements/building-union- equality_en#achieving-an-inclusive-society 
Buddies program by Dolly Parton: https://dollyparton.com/imagination_library/buddy-program