The Creative Power of the Arts - new Salzburg Global Forum report

A new report from the Salzburg Global Forum - The Creative Power of the Arts: Reimagining Human and Planetary Flourishing - looks at creative reforms in the target areas of climate, health, education and justice.

As the world confronts the compounded impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate crisis, and structural injustices, societies are bracing for a protracted and complex period of reassessment, reimagination, and restructuring. The culture and arts sector must be at the table and included in decision-making processes as societies seek to eschew a return to “normal” and instead reimagine more creative pathways towards human and planetary flourishing.

Launched in 2021, Salzburg Global’s The Creative Power of the Arts: Reimagining Human and Planetary Flourishing program brought together an interdisciplinary and inter-generational group of 90 creative practitioners, researchers, and policymakers from over 30 countries.

Through online Focus Group sessions, participants discussed intersections between the arts and culture sector and the following four topics: 

-    Reimagining a Greener Planet: Mitigating climate change and furthering sustainable design 
-    Reimagining a Healthier Planet: Promoting health and well-being through the arts
-    Reimagining a Smarter Planet: Fostering creativity in education and learning
-    Reimagining a Fairer Planet: Advancing social justice and processes of decolonization

This report is the result of the Focus Groups as well as a joint convening of all participants, along with a Collaboratory in-person meeting in Salzburg. By sharing the thinking of this global, diverse, and engaged group of Fellows in this report, Salzburg Global Seminar invites others to engage in a similar process of constructive inquiry to reflect deeply on what is dividing us, what is keeping us from collaborating better, and how we can achieve transformative change together.

Read the full report online

Download the report as a PDF