Culture, HIV and AIDS - Arts and creativity

UNESCO's Culture Sector work on HIV and AIDS is strengthening and systematising knowledge and best practices in the use of creativity and artistic expression in HIV and AIDS education as well as developing youth friendly tools and materials.

UNESCO has also begun work with and for artists (primarily in the music sector) to increase understanding of their particular vulnerabilities to HIV in order to develop effective strategies addressing their specific needs.

The use of creativity and the arts is widely recognised as an effective, non-formal education tool, particularly resourceful for sensitising young people to HIV and AIDS.

Dance, hip hop, puppetry and shadow theatre, painting, graffiti, poetry, screenwriting, textile design and fashion can all be used as compelling forms of “edutainment”.

Indeed, visual arts, music and other forms of creative expression can greatly impact individuals and communities through their portrayal of social concerns addressing sensitive issues such as poverty, discrimination and sexuality.