Corporate body

UNESCO. Culture Sector

• UNESCO. Secteur de la culture

1981-1985, 1990-

Prior to 1948, there were separate sections or divisions within UNESCO for the fields of libraries, museums, arts and letters. In 1948, these units were grouped under the newly created Department of Cultural Activities (CUA). The Department was renamed the Department of Culture in 1965 when the units at headquarters were being reorganized into Sectors creating the Social Sciences, Human Sciences and Culture Sector (SHC). Within SHC, the Department of Culture split in 1972 into the Department of Studies, Development and Dissemination of Culture (CLT) and the Department of Cultural Heritage (CLP). CLT’s name was shortened to the Department of Studies and Development in Culture in c. 1974. In 1975, both CLT and CLP were dissolved in advance of a larger reorganization of the sectors in 1976. At this time, the Culture and Communication Sector (CC) was created. The CC Sector was split apart by programme again so that there was an independent Culture Sector (CLT) from 1981 to 1985, until the programmes merged again to reform CC from 1986 to 1989. The Culture Sector (CLT) has since existed as an independent sector from 1990.

Over its history, CLT and its predecessors back to CUA have had the following directors and assistant director-generals: J. Thomas (1950-1954?); [Acting] P, Kirpal (1956?-1957); R. Salat (1957-1960); [Deputy] S. Asabuki (1962?); L. Gomes Machado (1962-1967); A. Seydou (1968?-1972); for CLT, A. Seydou (1972-1973?); for CLP, G. Bolla (1972-1974); for SHC, M. Elmandjra (1966?-1969); for SHC, R.H. Hoggart (1970-1974); M. Makagiansar (1976-1985); H. Lopes (1986?-1993); L. Arizpe (1994-1998); H. Crespo-Toral ([Deputy 1998-1999], 1999); M. Bouchenaki, ([Acting Interim 2000], 2001-2004); F. Rivière (2007-2010); and, F. Bandarin (2010-present).

Secretariat

Among the core tasks of UNESCO's Culture Sector are protecting and conserving cultural heritage, preserving and promoting cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue.

Since the beginning of its existence, the Sector and its predecessors carried out a wide range of different activities and functions. For more details, please consult the authority records linked to its collections.

The UNESCO Constitution states that “the purpose of the Organization is to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education, science and culture” (UNESCO Constitution, Article 1).
UNESCO is the only institution in the United Nations system with a mandate in the field of culture. In accordance with its Constitution, the Organization assists its Member States in updating their cultural policies. One of its aims is to help Member States formulate appropriate responses to those challenges posed by cultural diversity in all of its forms - be they heritage-related, contemporary or creative activities - as well as those posed by its corollary, i.e., intercultural dialogue. These policies pertain not only to the field of culture proper but also to the role that culture should play in other areas of development.

The Sector in its present form (June 2009) consists of:

• the Division of Cultural Expressions and Creative Industries
• the Division of Cultural Policies and Intercultural Dialogue
• the Division of Cultural Objects and Intangible Heritage
  and the World Heritage Centre.

Fur further information on the current and former divisions and sections of the sector, please consult the authority records linked to this record or to its collections.

Draft

Partial

Created by Julia Pohle, June 2009. 2011-12-08, revised, AWT. Date convention revised, AWT, 29-08-2014:

Programme Commission IV (now CLT Commission) reports to GC
AG 6/9: Lists of Members of the Secretariat, [Staff Lists] 1945-2007
LAD.85/WS/4 Rev. Paris, December 1987. A Chronology of UNESCO 1945-1987.
General Conference. Approved Programme and Budget 2008-2009. 34 C/5. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0015/001586/158606e.pdf
Culture Sector. Webpages. < http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=34603&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html > Accessed 2011-02-09.