Àgora Cívica publication in the framework of MONDIACULT
Read the debates, proposals and actions from Barcelona within the framework of MONDIACULT 2025, which has been published in April 2026.
Between 29 September and 1 October 2025, Barcelona hosted the third edition of MONDIACULT, the World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development, organised by UNESCO and, for this edition, hosted by the Kingdom of Spain through the Ministry of Culture. It was an occasion for the city, coming at a key moment in the international debate on the role of culture in social development and in responding to major global challenges such as the climate emergency, armed conflicts, economic and social inequalities, and the rejection of others.
The agenda of MONDIACULT 2025 set out debates around a range of issues of particular relevance today, including the effects of artificial intelligence on cultural life, the relationship between culture and education, as well as between culture and peace, and the role of cultural actors in climate action, among others. The official programme designed by UNESCO and the Ministry primarily featured institutional voices, including ministers and representatives of international organisations, alongside some contributions from international civil society organisations and invited figures.
To complement these discussions with a broader range of perspectives from Barcelona, Catalonia, the rest of Spain and other territories, and to give greater prominence to citizens and professionals from the cultural sector and related fields, Àgora Cívica proposed a parallel programme of activities. This programme was free and open to all, and included debates, outreach activities, presentations of experiences and small-scale performances. This publication brings together the main ideas discussed during the activities of Àgora Cívica, which took place between 26 September and 1 October 2025 in a number of venues in central Barcelona.
Àgora Cívica was created with the aim of building bridges between local practices and reflections and the themes addressed at MONDIACULT, thereby connecting local action with international debates. For this reason, the programme of Àgora Cívica was structured around a series of topics that broadly mirrored the structure of MONDIACULT, while at the same time reflecting more specific perspectives. The six topics addressed by Àgora Cívica, which also structure this publication, are:
- cultural rights,
- cultural and linguistic diversity,
- the cultural dimension of technologies and artificial intelligence,
- the relationship between culture and peace,
- the role of cities, and
- the proposal to establish a stand-alone Culture Goal within global agendas, and cultural ecosystems.
Each topic included several sessions which, taken together, made it possible to explore the issues in greater depth, and to learn about concrete experiences. This publication summarises the debates and proposals that emerged and illustrates these reflections with a selection of specific projects and activities. Finally, a reading guide has been included to allow for further exploration of the topics addressed, through a curated selection of texts.
One of the aims of Àgora Cívica was also to leave a legacy in the form of connections and alliances created and proposals for further progress. This publication, which reflects the wealth of the conversations and experiences, is intended to help continue connections, alliances and proposals.