DUBAI: Colombian Minister of Culture, Juan David Correa, has highlighted the impact of recent changes such as the climate emergency and advancements in artificial intelligence on cultures and the arts.
He emphasised the importance of culture in education, stating that it should form the foundation for combating misinformation and establishing ethical boundaries for artificial intelligence.
He was speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) during a meeting with the Colombian diaspora in Dubai. The Colombian Minister participated in UNESCO’s World Conference on Culture and Arts Education held in Abu Dhabi from 13th to 15th February 2024. The discussions focused on the role of culture and the arts in education.
He said that since the last such conference was held in Seoul, ‘many things have changed; there is a climate emergency and an advancement in artificial intelligence, which are challenging cultures and the arts.’
The Minister stressed that culture, encompassing more than just artistic expressions, shou
ld be the cornerstone of education. This, he argued, would equip students to critically evaluate misinformation online, including racist and classist content, and foster an understanding of artificial intelligence’s human origins and the need for ethical boundaries. He highlighted culture as a means to connect with others and understand the past, fostering an appreciation for nature and the environment.
He remarked that culture enables individuals to understand their environment and their role within it, fostering a new perspective that encourages holistic exploration of their surroundings. Additionally, cultural education plays a vital role in promoting peace by fostering unity despite disagreements, aiming to prevent conflicts and global crises.
In the culture of peace, Colombia has vast experience to share with the world, as it has been dealing with internal conflicts for decades and has experienced what it is like to work towards a peace agreement. For all these reasons, the Minister added, Colombia has
come to Abu Dhabi asking the world for a “transformation of school systems” and for culture and the arts to stop being “a kind of alien idea to education”.
Taking action on its educational commitment, Colombia embarks on a series of initiatives to integrate “culture and sensitivity” into its schools and nurture “creative individuals,” the Minister explained. In an unprecedented move, the Colombian government invests US$70 million, marking its “highest historical investment in the cultural sector.” This ambitious project aims to empower teachers of art, environment, sports, and science to infuse cultural and artistic discourse into 5,000 schools over the next four years.
During his first visit to the United Arab Emirates, Minister Correa met with Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture, and other authorities from the world of arts and culture to seek synergies in this field.
The Minister expressed his desire to “activate mechanisms of cooperation and cultural tourism”, through reciprocal par
ticipation in book fairs, translating texts from Spanish into Arabic and vice versa, and even the possibility of establishing a centre for Arab studies in Colombia.
Source: Emirates News Agency