The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) – Department of Culture organized in collaboration with the Lebanese National Commission for UNESCO and the Ministry of Culture an international Forum about “Foreseeing the future of Arab culture in light of global challenges” on October 29-30, 2022 in Beirut.
Attendees of the Forum included H. E. Minister of Culture Judge Mohammad Wissam Al-Mortada, the Secretary of the Executive Council and General Conference and Acting Director from the Department of Culture, Dr. Mourad Mahmoudi, President of the Lebanese National Commission for UNESCO, Mr. Chawki Sassine, the Secretary General Mrs. Hiba Nashabe, and Senior Programme Officer at the UNESCO Beirut Office Eng. Joseph Kreidi, and Mrs. Bouchra Baghdadi Adra, member of the Executive Council of the Lebanese Republic at ALECSO, and a number of experts and specialists in the field.
The Forum aimed to discuss the status of Arab culture following the global health crisis, and develop a vision for the future of Arab culture at the local, regional and international levels.
Among the topics covered during the sessions:
- The place of Arab culture among the cultures of the world: foreseeing the future.
- The health crisis and its repercussions on the cultural system in Arab countries.
- The digitization revolution, artificial intelligence and the content industry, what is at stake for Arab culture?
- Arab culture and its role in addressing the challenges facing humanity: terrorism and violent extremism.
- Arab culture faced with the values of cultural diversity: towards strengthening bonds with contemporary human cultures.
- Arab culture and the Sustainable Development Goals.
- The role of cultural diplomacy in the face of global divides and emerging barriers between nations.
The Forum ended with a set of recommendations.
