The Americas Cultural Summit 2021
The Americas Cultural Summit 2021 took place online from November 1 to 4, 2021. The event was co-hosted by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies.
The 2021 Summit, the third of its kind, explored the theme “Towards a sustainable, equitable and inclusive future.”
The Summit included participation from the Canada Council for the Arts, namely with opening remarks from former Director and CEO Simon Brault and a plenary and a panel discussion led by Board Chair Jesse Wente.
The 2019 Americas Cultural Summit
The 2019 Americas Cultural Summit took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from June 27 to 29, 2019.
The Summit explored the theme of “Cultural Change in a Diverse Territory,” focusing on the profound changes that continue to affect cultural models and practices.
The First Summit (2018)
The First Americas Cultural Summit was hosted by the Canada Council for the Arts in partnership with Argentina’s Ministry of Culture and the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA). It was held in Ottawa from May 9 to 11, 2018.
The Summit brought together renowned artists, eminent thinkers and leaders in public arts and culture funding from across the Americas to discuss their role in and impact on the rise of cultural citizenship.
The Summit culminated in a joint call to action that committed delegates to ongoing dialogue, collaboration and exchange. It reflected their shared values and priorities and celebrated the rich diversity that unites the Americas.
Highlights of the 2018 Americas Cultural Summit
Voices of the Summit
Participants shared their views on the Summit.
Summit statistics
![Summit of Americas Statistics 2018](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/infographics/SummitOfAmericasStatistics2018.jpg?h=1854&iar=0&w=940&hash=119166F44BA5F18519522B3439A78864)
Image of Americas Cultural Summit 2018 statistics including discussion themes, gender balance of presenters and delegates, percentage of post-event survey respondents who were motivated to form new collaborations and partnerships, and participation data on the primary language of presenters and types of delegates, as well as countries represented.
Summit themes
Arts and Social Change, Creating Commons for Digital Inclusion, Cultural Rights, Diversity and Inclusion, Indigenous Rights, Participatory Governance, and Truth, Memory and Reconciliation
Participant data (169 delegates)
Delegates | Percentage |
---|---|
Public funder | 46% |
Organization | 17% |
Government | 16% |
Association | 8% |
Artist | 7% |
Academic | 4% |
Private foundation | 2% |
92% of post-event survey respondents were motivated to form new collaborations and partnerships
33 countries represented
Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Rapa Nui, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, and United States of America
Event program
The following question guided the Summit: How can governments, institutions, practitioners, artists and individuals work together to help build more vibrant, open and pluralist democracies that respect, promote and protect the right of everyone to take part in cultural life?
Speakers
![Karima Bennoune](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/KarinaBennoune_highlight.jpg?mw=300&mh=200&hash=AAECD21274E780C0F3307D3737719609)
Karima Bennoune (USA)
UN Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights Professor of Law and Martin Luther King, Jr. Hall Research Scholar at the University of California-Davis School of Law
![Astra Taylor](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/AstraTaylorHighlight.jpg?mw=300&mh=200&hash=41C0699383545BBDFE0B48B341E76B09)
Astra Taylor (Canada/USA)
Writer, documentarian and organizer
![Alberto Manguel](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/AlbertoMangueliHighlight.jpg?mw=300&mh=200&hash=62C797676037B7BDC0EEA3A25579C3A5)
Alberto Manguel (Argentina/Canada)
Director of the National Library of Argentina and writer
![Alonso Salazar J.](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/AlonsoSalazarJ_highlight.png?mw=300&mh=200&hash=A8F1EF0FA665D39A4BEDB29F527A7608)
Alonso Salazar J. (Colombia)
Consultant, writer, former mayor of Medellín
![Leandro Carvalho](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/LeandroCarvalhoHighlight.jpg?mw=300&mh=200&hash=8CB7994C7BDCCD1384330ADC0BC6419D)
Leandro Carvalho (Brazil)
UK Chevening Clore Fellow
Former Secretary of State for Culture, Mato Grosso, Brazil and artist
![Jesse Wente](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/JesseWenteHighlight.jpg?mw=300&mh=200&hash=58759EBC3E19DA53064693C32DD29244)
Jesse Wente (Canada)
Director, Indigenous Screen Office
![Mauricio Delfín Pacheco](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/MauricioDelfinPachecoHighlight.jpg?mw=300&mh=200&hash=B3A9B5BD1F46002DD38E09B340C8ECBE)
Mauricio Delfín (Peru)
Researcher and promoter of open government in cultural sectors
![Elizabeth Silkes](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/ElizabethSilkesHighlight.jpg?mw=300&mh=200&hash=CFB8E1D4CA2F6ECFCC357423A1B6D6D5)
Elizabeth Silkes (USA)
Executive Director, International Coalition of Sites of Conscience
![Cristóbal Bianchi](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/CristobalBianchi_highlight.jpg?mw=300&mh=200&hash=570923730E6275457CD55C556ABBDE84)
Cristóbal Bianchi (Chile)
Artist, editor and founder, Casagrande Art Collective
![María Laura Ruggiero](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/MariaLauraRuggiero_highlight.jpg?mw=300&mh=200&hash=60BB85ACF00D79B41E0FD12837C46E6D)
María Laura Ruggiero (Argentina)
Filmmaker, animator and storyteller
![Eliza Chandler](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/ElizaChandler_highlight.jpg?mw=300&mh=200&hash=A322372A9D01A56D17482C3114EAB855)
Eliza Chandler (Canada)
Assistant professor, School of Disability Studies, Ryerson University
![María Claudia Parias Duran](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/MariaClaudiaPariasDuran_highlight.png?mw=300&mh=200&hash=99FBE1C09B73667378D7E304BCEBD289)
María Claudia Parias Durán (Colombia)
CEO, Batuta National Foundation
![María de los Ángeles González](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/MariadelosAngelesGonzalez_highlight.png?mw=300&mh=200&hash=136EC87EB0504917E23D24DB699FA423)
The Honourable María de los Ángeles González (Argentina)
Minister of Innovation and Culture for the Government of the Province of Santa Fe
![Rhodnie Désir](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/RhodnieDesir_highlight.png?mw=300&mh=200&hash=3A93FE08A92D37684DC0F4D7D9E859A2)
Rhodnie Désir (Canada)
Choreographer and Artistic Director of RDCreations and Executive Producer of BOW’T TRAIL
![Tito Hasbun](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/TitoHasbun_highlight.png?mw=300&mh=200&hash=6CB7FF673C174730E9C5AA22DD1D4988)
Tito Hasbun (Canada-El Salvador)
Consulting Director, Asociación de Arte para el Desarrollo
![Amor Muñoz](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/AmorMunoz_highlight.png?mw=300&mh=200&hash=1EAFBF276D5F89BDFAC91F7FACE73A50)
Amor Muñoz (Mexico)
Artist
![Jax Deluca](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/JaxDeluca_highlight.png?mw=300&mh=200&hash=EAA8AAF6B6A8BDE9B22B252E82ABFC3C)
Jax Deluca (USA)
Director of Media Arts, National Endowment for the Arts
![Michèle Stephenson](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/MicheleStephenson_highlight.png?mw=300&mh=200&hash=0A5C91FA3DEB83B6E065910CA89A2330)
Michèle Stephenson (Panama/Haiti/Canada/USA)
Filmmaker, artist and author
![Taeyoon Choi](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/TaeyoonChoi_highlight.jpg?mw=300&mh=200&hash=F10D1F30BDA8199650549BDF23E71B29)
Taeyoon Choi (USA)
Artist and activist
![Angie Leslye Pont Chamorro](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/AngieChamorro_highlight.png?mw=300&mh=200&hash=E5BE7FEEE3A23AD7F50229C99A5FE328)
Angie Leslye Pont Chamorro (Rapa Nui)
Artist, cultural carrier and curator
![Kenneth N. Frankel](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/KennethNFrankel_highlight.png?mw=300&mh=200&hash=C4A749DFC8EABC487FDD7BEA028E146D)
Kenneth N. Frankel (Canada)
President, Canadian Council for the Americas
![The Honourable Olivia Grange](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/OliviaGrange_highlight.png?mw=300&mh=200&hash=DEE5187A023FBFCCA7A9E1EFDA242144)
The Honourable Olivia Grange, CD, MP (Jamaica)
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport
![Juan Meliá](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/JuanMelia_highlight.png?mw=300&mh=200&hash=32E5A67B0AF0F7D15B37476ECE78ECC2)
Juan Meliá (Mexico)
Executive Secretary, National Fund for Culture and the Arts (FONCA)
![Monique Manatch](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/MoniqueManatch_highlight.png?mw=300&mh=200&hash=6F265D84D35895FF0A9F83CFD05F7DA6)
Monique Manatch (Canada, Algonquin Nation)
(Canada, Algonquin Nation)
![Magdalena Moreno Mujica](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/MagdalenaMerenoMujica_highlight.jpg?mw=300&mh=200&hash=D6D7A78C77DA6449CC6951934E8FD3CC)
Magdalena Moreno Mujica (Australia)
Executive Director, IFACCA
![Simon Brault](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/SimonBrault_highlight.png?mw=300&mh=200&hash=1FB98057FE7A079B70E763082ED672C4)
Simon Brault (Canada)
Director and CEO, Canada Council for the Arts (2014–23)
![Carolyn Warren](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/CarolynWarren_highlight.png?mw=300&mh=200&hash=42382782FB5BF4FE257280A3936216D4)
Carolyn Warren (Canada)
Director General, Arts Granting Programs, Canada Council for the Arts
![Martin Inthamoussú](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/MartinInthamoussu_highlight.jpg?mw=300&mh=200&hash=FA34A3E02936D9F511A45E1F8E400257)
Martín Inthamoussú (Uruguay)
Artist and cultural manager
![Javiera Parada](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/JavieraParada_highlight.jpg?mw=300&mh=200&hash=219D8140F843B535DC1F62A75753D0B1)
Javiera Parada (Chile)
Actress, cultural manager and activist
![The Hon. Fernando Griffith](/-/media/Images/CCA/Initiatives/SummitofAmericas/Speakers/HonFernandoGriffith_highlight.jpg?mw=300&mh=200&hash=8A7AA21E03E2262BCFCC5E290B5601BD)
The Hon. Fernando Griffith (Paraguay)
Minister and Executive Secretary of the National Secretariat of Culture