UNESCO’s Engagement in Jamaica’s Cultural Development
Eric Falt, the UNESCO Regional Director for the Caribbean, presented UNESCO’s insights on Jamaica’s Green Paper for the National Policy for Culture, Entertainment, and the Creative Economy (2025–2035) before the Joint Select Committee of Parliament. This meeting, chaired by Minister Olivia Grange, offered UNESCO a platform to influence the national cultural policy, reaching a broad audience through live broadcast.
Key Insights from the Presentation:
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Cultural Significance:
- Falt emphasized Jamaica’s cultural power, citing its global influence through music, language, fashion, literature, and sports. He introduced “mondialization” to illustrate how local culture can have worldwide impact.
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Broad National Framework:
- The Green Paper connects culture with essential sectors such as education, tourism, and technology, highlighting culture as a vital element of national development.
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Sustainable Value Creation:
- Emphasis on creating sustainable value from cultural expressions, focusing on financing, skills, infrastructure, intellectual property rights, and market access.
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Emerging Challenges:
- Highlighted the implications of artificial intelligence on the cultural sector, including the use of Jamaican cultural content for AI training and the rights of creators.
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Implementation Focus:
- Falt reiterated the importance of building a robust system to support cultural assets, ensuring youth engagement, creator ownership, and leveraging technology to enhance cultural expression.
UNESCO’s Ongoing Support:
UNESCO’s collaboration with Jamaica extends to various areas, including World Heritage, intangible cultural heritage, and creative cities, reinforcing its commitment to Jamaica’s cultural and economic growth.
