Culture, Arts, and Development: Putting People Back at the Center of Change
Event Description
Arts, culture, and heritage are often overlooked in global development conversations, yet they sit at the heart of how communities build identity, sustain trust, and navigate crisis. From shaping narratives to fostering belonging, culture is not peripheral to development, it is foundational.
This session explores the role of arts and culture as drivers of systems change, and why they must be brought back into the core of the sustainable development agenda. How do creative practices influence social norms, civic engagement, and recovery in times of disruption? What can development actors learn from artists, cultural practitioners, and grassroots movements?
We will also examine the intersections between culture, education, and activism, including how storytelling and creative expression can mobilize communities, challenge power structures, and bridge divides.
Bringing together voices from across sectors, this conversation will make the case for culture not as an add-on, but as essential infrastructure for more human, inclusive, and resilient systems.
Speakers
Celia Breuer is Head of Partnerships at Trust for Indigenous Culture & Health (TICAH), advancing community-led approaches to health, rights, and culture.
Harriet Hoffler is Senior Programme Manager at the Oxford SDG Impact Lab, University of Oxford, advancing culture and heritage within the sustainable development agenda.
Kathryn Morrissey is Senior Advisor at AIPHRC and Fellow at the Global Philanthropy Forum, advancing human expression, connection, and creativity in an AI-driven world.
Rebecca Hui is Executive Director of RURBAN, advancing global cultural exchange and Indigenous IP protection through partnerships and licensing.
Michelle Yim is Senior Program Manager at the Yidan Prize Foundation, advancing global education through strategic partnerships and flagship initiatives.
Alex Farrington is Director of Donor Engagement and Impact at Choose Love, supporting impactful giving and humanitarian response.
Discussion Questions
Why have arts and culture been sidelined in development, and what is lost as a result?
How can creativity and storytelling drive systems change and civic engagement?
What role can artists and cultural institutions play in activism and social movements?
How can culture be meaningfully integrated into development, education, and policy?