Celebrating the rich cultural diversity and heritage of ASEAN remains an important driver of the culture and arts sector. Culture and arts cooperation serves as an engine for economic growth and sustainable development, a building block for social cohesion and transformation, an asset for regional pride as well as a vehicle for forging closer friendship and understanding.

In a world of prevailing cultural pessimism, our culture sector continues to play a leading role to fostering a culture of peace, tolerance and mutual understanding. Longstanding efforts to mainstream the role of culture and arts in achieving peace and progress in the region are evident with the multitude of policy and project initiatives put in place yearly. Flagship initiatives include the ASEAN City of Culture, and the Best of ASEAN Performing Arts. Other activities span cultural showcases, preservation and conservation of tangible and intangible heritage, support and promotion of creative and cultural industry (SMCEs), arts exhibitions, capacity building for museum professionals, music, literature, performing arts, contemporary arts, food and cultural festivals, and cultural policy dialogues.

The culture sector is riding the digital waves with several key initiatives in collaboration with our dialogue partners, including with Japan on the development of the ASEAN Cultural Heritage Digital Archive (ACHDA) website, and with South Korea on the virtual reality of ASEAN UNESCO heritage sites which can be enjoyed at the ASEAN Cultural House in Busan, ROK.

Going forward, the culture sector is spearheading the development of the Narrative of ASEAN Identity, as part of the continuing efforts to promote awareness and foster a shared Identity. To further celebrate the cultural dynamism and vibrancy of the region, efforts are underway to promote and develop our small and medium cultural enterprises (SMCEs) to bolster regional development of the digital and creative economy. ASEAN’s culture and arts sector is committed to the advancement of culture as an important foundation for building the ASEAN Community. The culture sector collaborates with Dialogue Partners and various stakeholders to raise awareness and celebrate the rich histories, cultures, arts, traditions and values of ASEAN region.