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Welcome to your first ACORNS for 2026 where we share a brief international news round-up. In the last few weeks, we witnessed various actions to launch us into the new year, with a focus on the creative economy, intellectual property protection, recognition of cultural workers and the role of culture in other and broader policy agendas. In this context, there is no doubt that it is critical – and more so than ever – to work in collaboration and cooperation across the world and across policy agendas. As indicated by the World Economic Forum’s Global Cooperation Barometer 2026, within a more complex and uncertain geopolitical context, open and constructive dialogue is a critical factor in identifying potential collaborative pathways that advance shared interests. This continues to be a key approach to IFACCA’s work.
On the creative and digital economy, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs in Tunisia hosted the Arab Regional Forum for the Development of Cultural Industries and the Creative Economy recently in mid-December 2025. Ethiopia readies its first creative policy to protect artists and capture industry revenue. Also in the African continent, Ghana is reviewing its cultural policies to unlock the creative economy; the Ugandan government is stepping up investment efforts in the creative sector; and Nigeria rolls out the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy designed to turn creative works into economic assets, as the services sector now makes up over half
of the country’s GDP. It looks to strengthen the legal and regulatory structures for commercialising ideas in media, technology, tourism, and the creative economy.
Last December, the European Commission adopted its evaluation report on Creative Europe, its flagship funding programme for culture and media covering a decade, confirming how it has successfully contributed to safeguarding cultural diversity and strengthening competitiveness in the cultural and creative sectors (CCS). It highlights that moving forward funding ‘needs to continue adapting to the significant market, technological and other challenges faced by these sectors’. Over this period, the Arts Council of Wales welcomed a major investment of over £8.94 million to strengthen Wales’ iconic museums, archives, libraries and cultural institutions ‘to grow and bolster the nation’s essential cultural foundations’. It builds upon £11 million in capital grants already awarded over the past six months since launching its Priorities for Culture, alongside targeted initiatives supporting young people's access to cultural experiences.
While in Uruguay, the Ministry of Education and Culture concluded the year with the review of its Funds for Culture, with Minister José Carlos Mahía highlighting that more than 60 percent of supported recipients received funding for the first time. Equally, in Paraguay, Minister of Culture Adriana Ortiz Semidei presented the main axes of the 2025 administration that included strengthening of the cultural and creative economy, access to cultural rights
and the promotion of cultural diversity.
In Asia, the government of Viet Nam is transforming copyright into a core resource for the development of the national cultural industry and digital economy, approving the Project to Strengthen the Capacity for Effective Management and Enforcement of Laws on Copyright and Related Rights Protection. While in Japan, its culture agency is revising copyright rules to require payment of royalties to artists and record labels when their works are used as
background music in places such as cafes and gyms, extending royalty payments not only to songwriters and composers. And Indonesia’s Minister of Culture Fadli Zon has called for a more measurable and objective arts talent mapping system to serve as a reference for cultural development policies.
On the recognition of cultural workers, Kazakhstan is strengthening state support for its creative industries as the Mazhilis (the lower house of parliament) approved legislative amendments at a recent second reading. The amendments introduce changes to the laws On Culture, On State Youth Policy, and On Cinematography, specifically defining new concepts such as a “creative industries worker” and a “register of creative industry entities,” aimed at systematising and formalising the sector. And in Australia, for the first time, the Bureau of Communications, Arts and Regional Research has undertaken a detailed analysis of Australia's cultural and creative employment, showing a sector that has been resilient over more than a decade. Some key findings include: an estimated 591,302 people were employed in a cultural and creative industry or occupation as their main job in 2023–24, an increase of 7.1 percent from 2022–23; and as a share of total employment, this sector (4.1%) is comparable in size to the transport, postal and warehousing (4.6%), and wholesale trade (3.8%).
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the digital realm will continue to inform and impact arts and culture globally. Musicians in the Pacific warn that artists must slow down and use AI with care to protect language, culture, and identity. Meanwhile, positive developments include the University of Western Australia’s Learning on Country programme, a way in which Indigenous people teach and learn about Indigenous knowledge systems and culture – and the new
virtual reality tool, known as 360 On-Country, makes it more accessible than ever. Moreover, Bahrain has just launched a new global hub for creative innovation, which aims to empower creative entrepreneurs through advanced research, capacity-building programmes and international cooperation, offering artists, designers and cultural practitioners the skills and opportunities needed to succeed in the expanding global creative economy. And the Nordic Culture Fund releases its 2026-2030
Strategy with three pillars for culture to shape the future of the Nordics: (1) culture as the driving force for an innovative and future oriented-looking Nordic region, (2) co-operating to build a dynamic cultural ecosystem, and (3) knowledge and insight across borders.
In 2026, IFACCA will deepen its work based on the four dimensions of culture, as outlined in our Dossier for MONDIACULT 2025 Charting the future: Culture as our compass, and will share insights throughout the year. As always, if you have news, publications or updates that you would like us to share, please contact us at news@ifacca.org.
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ACORNS Iberoamericano
Le recordamos que continuamos entregando noticias del espacio iberoamericano tanto de los países miembros como artículos en prensa en general de la región. Al final de cada edición de ACORNS encontrará la sección de ACORNS Iberoamericano. Asimismo, nuestro sitio web cuenta con una variedad de noticias en español a su disposición.
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Australia’s first national survey into working conditions in the creative industries launches
Creative Australia, 19 January 2026, Australia
Creative Workplaces has today launched the Creative Workplaces Survey, a landmark national research project designed to build the first comprehensive picture of working conditions across Australia’s creative industries. The survey will explore key workplace issues including pay and working conditions, safety at work, bullying, discrimination and harassment.
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National Arts Month 2026
National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Philippines, 17 January 2026, Philippines
National Arts Month (NAM) 2026 continues to celebrate Filipino artistry and creativity under the overarching theme “Ani ng Sining: Katotohanan at Giting.” This theme aims to address the three outcomes of the Philippine Development Plan for Culture and the Arts as well as the SDGs, focusing on how artistic expressions promote peace and development.
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Public insights and sector collaboration shape new Playbook to grow audiences in Singapore
National Arts Council of Singapore, 16 January 2026, Singapore
The National Arts Council (NAC), in collaboration with key arts industry partners, announced the launch of the Audience Development Playbook today. Developed as a response to the arts industry’s call for a shared understanding and common language of evolving consumer behaviours, the Playbook translates and distills complex data into audience insights, including their interests, attitudes and behaviours, and equips arts practitioners with practical tools and case studies to better target, develop and grow audiences in Singapore.
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Summit on artificial intelligence and culture to be held in Banff, Alberta
Government of Canada, 16 January 2026, Canada
Artificial intelligence (AI) is having a transformative impact on Canada’s cultural and creative sectors, presenting challenges to business models and job security as well as new opportunities to boost innovation. As a global leader in AI, Canada is committed to facilitating conversations about these issues and taking steps to empower Canada’s cultural sector so it can fully benefit from the opportunities presented by AI.
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Te Maeva Nui 2026 to mark 60 years of Ui Ariki
Cook Islands News, 15 January 2026, Cook Islands
The role of the Ui Ariki as a cornerstone of Cook Islands society will take centre stage during Te Maeva Nui 2026, with the Ministry of Cultural Development announcing the theme for this year’s Constitution celebrations as “Taku Ui Ariki – E papa ngaueuekore ia noku – My Ariki – my immovable foundation”.
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ENCAC to host arts summit, awards
Eswatini Observer, 13 January 2026, Eswatini
Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) will again host the Eswatini Arts Summit this year as it also prepares for the upcoming National Arts and Culture Awards. ENCAC reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the country’s creative industries and positioning local talent on regional and international stages, according to the council.
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Syria launches new national strategy to safeguard cultural heritage
Syrian Arab News Agency, 1 January 2026, Syria
The General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums on Thursday announced the outlines of Syria’s new national strategy for the protection and management of cultural heritage. Covering the period from 2025 to 2035, the strategy emphasises safeguarding Syria’s heritage as a national and human treasure and harnessing it for sustainable development.
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A bold new policy to harness culture as economic power
Jamaica Observer, 30 December 2025, Jamaica
The National Policy for Culture, Entertainment and the Creative Economy 2025-2035 is more than a government document, it is a 10-year roadmap to transform Jamaica’s distinctive cultural assets into structured engines of growth, jobs, and global influence.
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Guyana to host inaugural National Creative Industry Development Conference
Guyana Chronicle, 24 December 2025, Guyana
Signalling a major push to integrate culture and creativity into the wider economy, Guyana in January will host its inaugural National Creative Industry Development Conference. This was recently revealed by President Dr. Irfaan Ali who while outlining the government’s economic plans for the next five years in an address to the nation, stressed that culture and creativity are essential to Guyana’s development.
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Culture, Climate and Environmental Responsibility Report 2024/25
Arts Council England, 19 January 2026, England
The report offers insights into the creative and cultural sector’s continuing commitment to Environmental Responsibility, an Investment Principle in Arts Council’s Let’s Create strategy. It presents success stories and how organisations are understanding and reducing their environmental impact.
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Assessing the Economic Impact of the Arts on Health and Healthcare Services in Wales
Cygnor Celfyddydau Cymru - Arts Council of Wales, 19 January 2026, Wales
This new report by the Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation (CHEME), Bangor University, and the Research Centre for Arts and Wellbeing at Edge Hill University provides an independent assessment of the economic impact of the arts on the NHS and social care in Wales. It also looks at wider population health and societal impacts.
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Between Rhetoric and Reality: Cultural Rights, Artistic Freedom, and Democratic Resilience
IETM - International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts, 13 January 2026, Belgium
Drawing on a Europe-wide survey - with some global perspectives, network workshops, and desk research, this new PAC report examines how performing arts professionals experience artistic freedom, cultural participation, and cultural rights today, offering grounded insights and policy recommendations to inspire meaningful action in Europe and beyond.
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World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026
UNCTAD - United Nations Conference on Trade & Development, 8 January 2026, International
The global economy has shown resilience, but the outlook remains clouded by trade tensions, fiscal strains and persistent uncertainty. Growth is expected to slow to 2.7% in 2026, below 2025 levels and the pre-pandemic average, as subdued investment and structural headwinds weigh on momentum despite easing inflation and monetary loosening.
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Collections Law & Ethics
The Federation Press, 23 September 2025, Australia
Collections Law & Ethics addresses the key legal and ethical issues that arise in public museums, galleries, libraries and archives in Australia and New Zealand. How a collection meets these issues affects the reputation of both the organisation and everyone associated with it.
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Call for researcher: NEMO report on climate anxiety and museums
NEMO - The Network of European Museum Organisations, 13 February 2026, Germany
NEMO invites applications for a researcher to develop a report on how museums can address climate anxiety and foster emotional resilience. Commissioned by the NEMO Working Group Sustainability and Climate Action, the report will provide guidance and inspiration when navigating the mental health impacts of the climate crisis. Apply by 13 February 2026.
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Open call: World Monuments Watch 2027
World Monuments Fund, 20 March 2026, International
The World Monuments Watch champions places nominated by individuals and organisations that span the globe. Nominate a site for the Watch 2027 now through March 20, 2026.
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Bienvenidos/as a su primer ACORNS de 2026, donde compartimos un breve resumen de recientes noticias internacionales. En las últimas semanas hemos sido testigos de diversas acciones para dar inicio al nuevo año, con un enfoque en la economía creativa, la protección de la propiedad intelectual, el reconocimiento de los(as) trabajadores(as) culturales y el papel de la cultura en las agendas transversales de políticas públicas. En este contexto, no cabe duda de que es fundamental —ahora más que nunca— trabajar en colaboración y cooperación en todo el mundo y a través de las diversas agendas políticas. Tal como indica el Barómetro de Cooperación Global
2026 del Foro Económico Mundial, en un contexto geopolítico más complejo e incierto, el diálogo abierto y constructivo es un factor fundamental para identificar posibles vías de colaboración que promuevan intereses compartidos. Este sigue siendo un enfoque clave en el trabajo de IFACCA.
En cuanto a la economía creativa y digital, el Ministerio de Asuntos Culturales de Túnez organizó recientemente, a mediados de diciembre de 2025, el Foro Regional Árabe para el Desarrollo de las Industrias Culturales y la Economía Creativa. Etiopía se prepara para implementar su primera política creativa destinada a proteger a los(as) artistas y captar ingresos para la industria. Asimismo, en el continente africano, Ghana está revisando sus políticas
culturales para desbloquear la economía creativa; el gobierno de Uganda está intensificando los esfuerzos de inversión en el sector creativo; y Nigeria ha lanzado su Política y Estrategia Nacional de Propiedad Intelectual, diseñada para convertir las obras creativas en activos
económicos, dado que el sector de servicios ya representa más de la mitad del PIB del país. Esta estrategia busca fortalecer las estructuras legales y regulatorias para la puesta en mercado de ideas en los ámbitos de medios, tecnología, turismo y economía creativa.
En diciembre pasado, la Comisión Europea adoptó su informe de evaluación de Europa Creativa, su programa emblemático de financiación para la cultura y los medios en la última década, confirmando cómo ha contribuido con éxito a salvaguardar la diversidad cultural y a fortalecer la competitividad en los sectores culturales y creativos. El informe destaca que, de cara al futuro, la financiación “debe seguir adaptándose a los importantes desafíos del mercado, tecnológicos y de otro tipo que enfrentan estos sectores”. Durante este período, el Arts Council of Wales (Consejo de las Artes de Gales) celebró una importante inversión del gobierno galés, de más de 8,94 millones de libras, destinada a fortalecer los museos, archivos, bibliotecas e instituciones culturales icónicas de Gales “para impulsar y reforzar las bases culturales esenciales de la nación”. Esta inversión se suma a los 11 millones de libras en subvenciones de capital ya otorgadas en los últimos seis meses desde el lanzamiento de sus Prioridades para la
Cultura, junto con iniciativas específicas que apoyan el acceso de los(as) jóvenes a experiencias culturales.
Mientras tanto, en Uruguay, el Ministerio de Educación y Cultura concluyó el año con un balance de sus Fondos para la Cultura. El ministro José Carlos Mahía destacó que más del 60 % de los(as) beneficiarios(as) apoyados recibieron financiación por primera vez. De igual manera, en Paraguay, la ministra de Cultura Adriana Ortiz Semidei presentó los ejes principales de la administración 2025, que incluyen el fortalecimiento de la economía cultural y
creativa, el acceso a los derechos culturales y la promoción de la diversidad cultural.
En Asia, el gobierno de Vietnam está transformando los derechos de autor en un recurso fundamental para el desarrollo de la industria cultural nacional y la economía digital, mediante la aprobación del Proyecto para fortalecer la capacidad de gestión y aplicación eficaz de las leyes sobre protección de los Derechos de Autor y derechos relacionados. Mientras tanto, en Japón, su agencia de cultura (Agency for Cultural Affairs) está revisando las reglas de
derechos de autor para exigir el pago de regalías a artistas y sellos discográficos cuando sus obras se utilicen como música de fondo en lugares como cafeterías y gimnasios, ampliando los pagos de regalías no solo a compositores(as) y autores(as). Por su parte, el ministro de Cultura de Indonesia, Fadli Zon, ha solicitado un sistema de mapeo del talento artístico con mejores mediciones y más objetivo que sirva como referencia para las políticas de desarrollo cultural.
En cuanto al reconocimiento de los(as) trabajadores(as) culturales, Kazajistán está fortaleciendo el apoyo estatal a sus industrias creativas, a raíz de la aprobación por el Mazhilis (la cámara baja del parlamento) de recientes enmiendas legislativas en su segunda lectura. Las enmiendas introducen cambios en las leyes sobre Cultura, política estatal de Juventud y Cinematografía, definiendo específicamente nuevos conceptos como “trabajador(a) de las industrias creativas” y “registro de entidades de la industria creativa”, con el objetivo de sistematizar y formalizar el sector. Y en Australia, por primera vez, la Oficina de Comunicaciones, Artes e
Investigación Regional ha realizado un análisis detallado del empleo cultural y creativo en Australia, mostrando la resiliencia del sector durante más de una década. Entre los hallazgos clave, se destaca que sobre 591.302 personas estuvieron empleadas en una industria u ocupación cultural y creativa como su empleo principal en 2023–24, un aumento del 7,1 % respecto a 2022–23; y, como proporción del empleo total, este sector (4,1 %) es comparable en tamaño al del transporte, correo y almacenamiento (4,6 %) y al comercio mayorista (3,8 %).
La inteligencia artificial (IA) y el ámbito digital seguirán ejerciendo efectos e influencia en las artes y la cultura a nivel global. Músicos del Pacífico advierten que los(as) artistas deben usar la IA con cuidado para proteger la lengua, la cultura y la identidad. Mientras tanto, son avances positivos programas como el Learning on Country de la Universidad de Australia Occidental, en el que los pueblos indígenas enseñan y aprenden sobre sistemas de
conocimiento y cultura indígena, de manera más accesible que nunca gracias a la nueva herramienta de realidad virtual 360 On-Country. Además, Baréin acaba de lanzar un nuevo centro global para la innovación creativa, que busca empoderar a los(as) emprendedores(as) creativos(as) mediante investigación avanzada, programas de desarrollo de capacidades y cooperación internacional, ofreciendo a artistas, diseñadores(as) y profesionales culturales las habilidades y oportunidades necesarias para prosperar en la creciente economía creativa global. Finalmente, el Fondo Nórdico de Cultura publicó su Estrategia 2026-2030, con tres pilares base para que la cultura oriente el futuro de los países nórdicos: (1) la cultura como fuerza impulsora para una región nórdica innovadora y orientada al futuro, (2) cooperación para construir un ecosistema cultural dinámico y (3) conocimiento y perspectivas a través de las fronteras.
En 2026, IFACCA profundizará su trabajo en las cuatro dimensiones de la cultura descritas en nuestro dossier para MONDIACULT 2025 Trazando el futuro: la cultura es nuestra brújula, y compartiremos nuestras perspectivas a lo largo del año. Como siempre, para cualquier noticia, publicación novedades que le gustaría que compartiéramos, por favor contáctenos en news@ifacca.org.
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Nueva encuesta: La inteligencia artificial y la cultura. Percepciones, usos y retos
National Council of Culture and Arts, Catalonia, 14 January 2026, Spain
La irrupción de la inteligencia artificial está transformando de forma acelerada los procesos creativos, las dinámicas profesionales y la percepción social de la autoría. Ante este escenario, es necesario recoger la voz directa de los artistas, creadores y profesionales de la cultura para entender cómo viven esta transformación, qué retos identifican y qué oportunidades detectan.
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Cultura e Meio Ambiente celebram acordo para fortalecer povos e comunidades tradicionais
Ministério da Cultura, Brazil, 13 January 2026, Brazil
Identificar e valorizar os modos de vida, a diversidade cultural e a gestão socioambiental dos povos e comunidades tradicionais que vivem em Unidades de Conservação de Uso Sustentável e Territórios Tradicionais. Esses são alguns dos objetivos do Acordo de Cooperação Técnica (ACT) assinado, em dezembro, entre o Ministério da Cultura (MinC), o Ministério do Meio Ambiente e Mudança do Clima (MMA), o Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional (Iphan) e o Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio).
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