UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

04/17/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/17/2024 04:00

UNESCO-Aschberg Programme promotes the status of artists and culture professionals in Mongolia’s film sector

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia - The UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, the Mongolian National Film Council and Mongolia Ministry of Culture have successfully concluded a two-day capacity-building workshop on 11-12 April 2024. The workshop, held within the framework of the UNESCO-Aschberg programme, the 1980 Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist, and the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, aimed to empower stakeholders with the knowledge and tools necessary to understand and advocate for the status of artists and cultural professionals.

The workshop kicked off the UNESCO-Aschberg program funded research project to be implemented by the Mongolian National Film Council until the end of 2024, with the aim to develop a deep understanding about the status of artists and to establish a database for registration of stakeholders in Mongolia's film sector.

The workshop, participated by 40 government officials, civil society representatives, artists and film makers, provided a platform for this multi-sectoral group of stakeholders to explore different aspects concerning the status of artists and artistic freedom. Members of the 2005 Convention Expert Facility - Hiroko Tsuboi-Friedman, Yoonhyung Jeon, and Bodibaatar Jigjidsuren - offered a wide range of presentations that cover the key principles and concepts of the international instruments, the global and international film policies and measures - notably of Japan and Republic of Korea - that address the issues concerning the status of artists, global and Mongolian responses to the recent global survey on the implementation of 1980 Recommendation, and how the paradigm in global cultural governance to position culture as a global public good will have the implications in the film sector.

Hiroko Tsuboi-Friedman, 2005 Convention Expert Facility's member, presenting key international concepts and principles © Mongolian National Film Council

The second day of the workshop provided an opportunity for participants to reflect the global principles, concepts and good practices into the local Mongolian context. Through the format of panel discussion (joined by three renown Mongolian female film director, producer and academic - Uranchimeg Nansal, Ariunaa Tserenpil and Tsengel Davasambuu) and plenary discussions, the participants identified key issues that can be addressed in the coming years by new policies and practical measures, to ensure the enhancement of the status of artists in the film sector.

Some of these issues include gender equality in the film sector to nurture more female producers and directors, cultivation of both men and women talents, access to improved working condition such as film studio facilities, the social welfare for the industry of around 800 professionals and workers most of whom work as freelancers, and how to unite in form of labor unions and association to raise a collective voice to fight for artists' economic and social positions. These identified priorities will also contribute to shaping Mongolia's actions which can lead to revision of policies and development of new measures.

Undral Choimpog, Chairperson of the Mongolian National Film Council, presenting Mongolia's film sector's vision © Mongolian National Film Council

Mongolian National Film Council and the research team from the National University of Mongolia also presented the research framework to collect feedback from the workshop participants. The key suggestions pointed to a need to fully reflect the diverse aspects of status of artists as guided by the international instruments situated in the Mongolian context, to consider research that has been carried out on this topic including those by other international organizations, and to inclusively engage the film sector's artists and professionals. In the coming months, a series of interviews and focus group discussions will take place, aiming to target 60 stakeholders in the film sector and those sectors whose responsibilities touch upon the status of the artist. The findings will be used as the basis for advocating for film sector policy changes in the coming years.

Founded in 1956, the current focus of the UNESCO-Aschberg programme contributes to the protection and promotion of artistic freedom, the status of artists and cultural professionals, and a balanced flow of cultural goods and services. In 2023, 25 projects (13 from the government agencies and 12 from civil society organizations) received an investment of US$1 million.