Building on Culture from Ambon to Delhi via Kolkata

Moe Chiba, UNESCO Jakarta in discucssion with Amitava Bhattacharya, Benny Usdianto and Arti Jaiman

From our series Culture, Conflict and Recovery in Asia

The power of art and culture in sustainable development has been much discussed in theory yet not always demonstrated in practice. As a result they are typically sidelined in national policy debates. Are they indeed just nice “little things” but not essential for serious policy consideration? Arts and Culture seem to support the critical needs of communities and individuals, especially in times of crisis. So what do the field practitioners say?

We will hear the experience of field experts in rural livelihoods, conflict resolution and disaster response and their views on why arts and culture were essential in their work.

Moe Chiba is the Head of the Culture Unit of UNESCO Jakarta

Amitava Bhattacharya (@Amitava_bnc), a Kolkata-based social entrepreneur, founded banglanatak dot com in 2000 specializing in culture and development. His flagship initiative Art for Life addressing Sustainable Development Goals using intangible cultural heritage has received global recognition from UNESCO, UNWTO and UN ECOSOC. In 2011 he started Sur Jahan World Peace Music Festival in Kolkata.

Until October 2021 Benny Usdianto was the CEO of RedR Indonesia, part of a federation of organisations providing training and technical support to those responding to humanitarian crises. He is an expert in disaster risk management and emergencies.

Arti Jaiman is the Station Director of Gurgaon Ki Awaaz Samudayik Radio, a community radio station in Gurgaon that has been on air since 2009. A journalist by training, Arti has led the process of setting up the first civil society-run community radio station in the National Capital Region with a clear focus on creating a vibrant media space where marginalized community groups such as local villagers and migrant workers can tell their own stories, in their own voices.