The UNESCO Chair in Economics of Culture and Heritage actively engages in a broad spectrum of collaborative projects and initiatives that are designed to foster sustainable development, cultural preservation, and innovation. These engagement efforts are deeply rooted in the principles of capacity building, interdisciplinary research, and international cooperation. By embracing these core values, the chair aims to create a substantial and lasting impact on both local and global scales. The commitment to capacity building is reflected in the dedication to enhancing the skills, knowledge, and abilities of individuals and institutions. Through different training programs, workshops, and mentoring, communities and professionals are empowered to effectively address contemporary challenges and drive sustainable progress.

Useful Resources

Turin is UNESCO Creative City for Design. The design sector is the object of study by MIRA, the regional observatory on design in Piedmont, which provides economic analysis for understanding the design sector. Collecting qualitative and quantitative data in a systematic and continuous manner, analyzing them, and making them available to companies and professionals, institutions, and decision makersthe observatory encourages the use of design as a lever for innovation and to produce increasingly informed policies. MIRA produces an annual report on the design sector in Piedmont to provide a continuously updated snapshot of the region's design economy, and carries out periodic thematic research to focus on emerging phenomena, define the physiognomy of specific design fields and professions, and capture the dynamics of the sector.

The Department of Economics and Statistics “Cognetti de Martiis” of the University of Turin is a scientific partner in the project, represented by Professor Giovanna Segre, as well as the Santagata Foundation for the Economy of Culture, represented by Paola Borrione.

Useful Resources

The third edition of the 'Rethinking Culture and Creativity Workshop' is organized by Professors Giovanna Segre, Enricco Bertacchini, and Paola Borrione. It is held in person at the Luigi Einaudi Campus of the University of Turin and will be hosted by the “Cognetti de Martiis” Department of Economics and Statistics and the UNESCO Chair for the Economics of Culture and Heritage. The workshop is a space for discussion on the role of culture in sustainable development and an opportunity to explore how cultural organizations face the new challenges posed by the ecological transition and the need to be more sustainable from an economic, social, cultural, and environmental point of view. The aim of the program is to create a network of scholars in subjects related to the economics and management of culture and creativity, as well as to contribute to the current debate on the cultural and creative economy in relation to sustainability. Academics, researchers, and students are invited to send papers of a theoretical and empirical nature that use qualitative and/or quantitative methodologies.

Among the topics that will be addressed are: Culture, cultural policies and sustainable development; Institutional change and governance of cultural assets; Role of cultural heritage and its reference communities in achieving cultural, social and environmental sustainability; Cultural development and resilience in internal areas; Cultural and creative industries, green transition and digital transformation; Planning, evaluation and responsibility in the cultural sector; Museums and green transition; Cultural and creative tourism and sustainability. The workshop will include two plenary sessions: the first will open the workshop and is dedicated to the celebration of the memory of Professor Walter Santagata, thanks to three conferences that will explore the themes of the cultural and creative industry, contemporary artistic creation, and heritage management and role of UNESCO. The second, organized as part of the “Empowering Italian GLAMs” project, will close the workshop with a discussion and comparison of European experiences in models of access and reuse of digital contents of cultural heritage.

The "Dialogues of Italian UNESCO Chairs: a laboratory of ideas for the world to come" is a collaborative initiative launched by the Italian UNESCO Chairs to tackle global challenges and promote sustainable development. Initiated on October 9, 2020, the project facilitated discussions through a series of webinars held from May to September 2021, featuring academics, national and international figures, and political authorities. These dialogues focused on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and integrated academic knowledge with community insights.

The project emphasized the importance of dialogue, collaboration, and the sharing of good practices. Each webinar was linked to specific SDGs and hosted in virtual rooms to explore themes and perspectives. This approach facilitated a comprehensive understanding of sustainable development, transforming individual insights into a collective vision.

The initiative culminated in the creation of the "Declaration for Sustainability", which was presented at the Ministry of Education on November 30, 2021, and at Expo Dubai 2020. This declaration highlights the Italian UNESCO Chairs' commitment to advancing education and knowledge in response to global environmental and social challenges. It promotes higher education as a common good and knowledge as a global common good, advocating for complex thinking and reflection on issues like climate change.

The "Dialogues" program continues to serve as a platform for discussion and collaboration, aiming to implement new projects that align with UNESCO's goals. This ongoing effort seeks to enhance the role of higher education in addressing the interdependent environmental and social challenges of our time.