Living Arts

• Sichuan, China © Unesco/ C. Michel

Activities in favour of creativity are aimed first and foremost at young people and artists.

In all fields, the main emphasis is given to artistic education and to the encouragement of artists' networks in which non-governmental organizations and international exchanges involve millions of creative persons, artists and performers all over the world. The UNESCO Prize for the Promotion of the Arts, the Organization’s support for festivals and the tools supplied to artists and political decision-makers, including a number of websites, are a clear indication of its firm commitment to the arts. World Watch on the Status of the Artist, containing the most recent data on the state of national legislations, has been developed jointly with ILO.

The Organization’s main partner in the field of music is the International Music Council (IMC). Its principal tool is the Music Education and Career Prospects Directory, an interactive reference work with links to help young musicians on the threshold of their careers.

In the field of drama and theatre, UNESCO's principal partner is the International Theatre Institute (ITI). The ITI/UNESCO World Theatre Directory online, a tool for international cooperation in theatre, reflects the great diversity of the world's performing arts. Under this cooperation several programmes are being developed such as: ITI/UNESCO Chair "Theatre and Culture of Civilizations", Training and Workshops, International Meetings and Publications.

UNESCO's main partners in the field of dance are the International Dance Council (IDC) and the International Organization of the transition of dancers which actively works on The aDvANCE project for the reconversion of dancers.

The International Association of Art Critics (AICA) is also a close international partner in the field of visual arts.

For more information, please consult the websites of partner institutions:

• International Music Council (IMC)
• International Theatre Institute (ITI)
• World Theatre Directory
• International Dance Council (CID)
• International Association of Art Critics (AICA)
• International Organization for the transition of professional dancers (IOTPD)