Understanding the Cultural Strategy of ASEAN

 Keywords: Cultural Strategy, ASEAN, Cultural Frameworks, ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community

Date: 09th Dec, 2024

ASEAN as a regional grouping has always been aware and conscious of its cultural heritage and made several efforts to uphold the importance of art and culture in showcasing the cultural uniqueness of the region. ASEAN's cultural collaborations represent more than soft power initiatives. They are strategic tools that reinforce ASEAN's identity, global outreach, and internal cohesion while advancing the grouping’s regional objectives. 

ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) is one of the pillars of the ASEAN community. The regional bloc has established a Working Group on the Culture of Prevention (CoP) to ensure the implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on Culture of Prevention for a Peaceful, Inclusive, Resilient, Healthy and Harmonious Society. This Declaration on CoP ASEAN was adopted in 2017 in Manila at the 31st ASEAN Summit. 

There are six thrust areas in the ASEAN CoP Declarations, which include a culture of peace and intercultural understanding, a culture of respect for all, a culture of good governance at all levels, a culture of resilience and care for the environment, a culture of a healthy lifestyle and a culture supporting the values of moderation. This exemplifies ASEAN's priorities for a sustainable and resilient society based on peace, good health, and understanding. 

A year before the ASEAN CoP declaration, ASEAN had declared a Strategic Plan on Culture and Arts 2016-2025 to facilitate the region's journey towards building a solid and robust ASEAN community. Through the Declaration and the Strategic Plan, ASEAN has maintained that art and culture can promote a region that believes in cultural diversity and promote intercultural understanding. 

The Strategic Plan also highlighted six priority areas which are contemporary, relevant and focused on the ASEAN community. ASEAN's strategic plan on art and culture speaks volumes about ASEAN's potential in the worldwide arena while maintaining its unique cultural identity. 

It speaks about increasing appreciation for the histories and cultures of the region, promotes cultural diversity, underscores the importance of inclusive and sustainable development, harnesses the use of culture for creativity, innovation and livelihood creation, promotes regional cooperation in heritage management and encourages the role of culture in making ASEAN a proactive member in the global community. 

To implement the grand plans taken by ASCC in art and culture, ASEAN has institutionalized the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture and Arts (AMCA) Meetings and AMCA with ASEAN Plus Three Meetings. The 11th round of the AMCA Meeting was held in Malaysia on 24 October 2024 with the theme "Bridging Cultures, Building Futures: Unity in Diversity". 

This theme highlights the essential role of culture and the arts in promoting sustainable and inclusive development and strengthening ASEAN's solidarity. Institutionally, it is the responsibility of the AMCA to develop strategic regional solutions for culture and arts cooperation. It is an integral part of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. 

The outcomes of the 11th round of AMCA meetings are noteworthy. The joint statement released after the meeting spoke at length about the unparalleled diversities within the region and addressed issues like the role of the youth, creative economy and digitalization. The statement focuses on the active engagement of the youth in cross-cultural activities, making them feel integral to the cultural dialogue. 

ASEAN Youth and Heritage Forum were convened. The Vang Vieng Declaration on Promoting the Small and Medium-sized Cultural Enterprises, which is aligned with the Green Growth for Sustainable Development 2024, was also mentioned in the joint statement. The statement also focuses on the contributions of the Creative Economy to GDP, employment, and the cultural industry. 

Creative Economy gained much traction in the joint statement as ASEAN plans to hold a symposium, which will be supported by the UK and ASEAN Secretariat. ASEAN is also planning to establish the ASEAN Creative Economy Sustainability Framework based on the Siem Reap Declaration on Promoting a Creative and Adaptive ASEAN Community to Support the Cultural and Creative Economy, adopted on 7 July 2022. 

The AMCA Joint Statement highlights the role of digitalization in safeguarding cultural heritage and using digital tools to enhance cultural innovation. The joint statement places utmost importance on ASEAN's partner countries in this outward-oriented plan to include culture as one of the tools in ASEAN's global strategies and actions. The holistic framework will serve as ASEAN's guiding light for combining social, cultural, economic, and environmental positives, instilling a sense of optimism about the future of cultural preservation and innovation. 

Another remarkable outcome of the 11^th AMCA meeting was the selection of Melaka, Malaysia, as the 8th ASEAN City of Culture. This will complement Malaysia's role as the ASEAN Chair for 2025, including hosting the International Cultural and Arts Festival (ICAF), among many other events and programmes. 

Before Melaka, Cebu City, Philippines (2010-2011), Singapore (2012-2013), Hue, Vietnam (2014-15), Bandar Seri Begawan (2016-2017), Yogyakarta (2018-2020), Siem Riep (2021-2022), Vientiane, Lao PDR (2022-2023) have been selected as the ASEAN City of Culture by previous AMCA meetings.

ASEAN’s cultural vision demonstrates willingness for a peaceful, resilient, and prosperous Indo-Pacific by integrating culture, heritage, education, and technology. This synergy supports ASEAN’s role as champion of multilateralism, fostering a regional architecture that is both sustainable and globally relevant. 

Sampa Kundu is a Consultant, ASEAN-India Centre, RIS, New Delhi and Visiting Fellow, Asian Confluence.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above and the information available are those of the author/s and can therefore in no way be taken to reflect the position of Asian Confluence

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