What is World Art Day?
World Art Day is a global celebration that promotes and celebrates the development, diffusion, and enjoyment of art. It was established during the 40th session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 2019. It is celebrated each year on the birthday of Leonardo da Vinci. This year, on his 570th Birthday, World Art Day aims to highlight the importance of art in times of conflict and crises.
Covid-19 shone a light on the contribution that art has on our society. Art has an ability to unite people, to lift each other’s spirits, and is an important form of self-expression. During the various lockdowns, we relied upon art and culture. Whether this was through binge-watching your favourite TV show, listening to podcasts, audiobooks, and music, or reading literature, our participation in art and culture helped us to get through difficult times.
Getting Involved
Despite our reliance on art, according to the UNESCO Global Report ‘Reshaping Policies for Creativity: Addressing Culture as a Global Public Good’, approximately 10 million jobs were lost in the cultural and creative sector globally in 2020. This World Art Day, the message is to ensure that the arts and cultural sector recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic by encouraging resilience within the arts and cultural communities, advocating for better working conditions and promoting greater access to art and culture.
As a means of thanking the art and culture professionals for their resilience, why not celebrate World Art Day by:
- Looking into participating in art classes and learning a new skill (many classes are still being held online)
- Considering supporting small or local art businesses
- Keeping an eye out for events within your area such as exhibitions and theatre productions
- Producing your own art – write a poem, paint, draw, sew, knit
- Considering donating to a non-profit organisation supporting artists and creatives, or donating to your local art institutions such as theatres or galleries
“Just as man needs oxygen to survive, he also needs art and poetry.” Aimé Césaire
The DigiKommune Project
The DigiKommune project is an Erasmus+ funded initiative that aims to provide female artists and creatives with the necessary digital skills to adapt to a post-Covid-19 world.
“The challenge of keeping art alive, now and in the future, is twofold: we must support culture professionals and cultural institutions, and promote access to art for all”– Audrey Azoulay (Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Art Day.)
The DigiKommune project aims to tackle this challenge through the DigiKommune Digital Training for Female Artists and Creatives in Business. This online training aims to equip female artists and creatives (an underrepresented and marginalised group within the cultural and creative industry) with the necessary digital skills to take their artwork online. This free and accessible training will not only support artists and cultural professionals but also aims to make their artwork more accessible by ensuring that they have the skills to take their artwork online. Making artwork digitally accessible is a crucial part of ensuring that the arts and creative industries recover from the Covid-19 pandemic and is a way to make art more accessible.
To register your interest in the upcoming training, please complete this short form here.
For more information about the project:
Visit the Project website here.
Follow the project Facebook page here.
by Carolyn Usher
International Project Manager & Trainer/Coach
Carolyn joined Inova in 2011 and is a Project Manager, trainer and coach. She is passionate about development and supporting people to achieve their dreams. Carolyn has a PGCert in Coaching and Mentoring from Sheffield Hallam University, BA in Communication and Cultural Studies and a MA in Cultural Policy and Management.