Arts, culture and creativity can help Australians to live peacefully and feel safe. New research from A New Approach (ANA) shows how creative and cultural engagement contributes to security by fostering feelings and spaces of safety, enabling active citizenship and democratic participation, and advancing international cultural relations. Culture and creativity can help people feel safe in diverse and difficult circumstances. For example, Indigenous art-themed head caps for operating theatre staff at Royal Darwin Hospital improved perceived staff communication and the patient experience. Creative participation can provide spaces to build confidence. In community choirs, for instance, participants feel comfortable and free from judgment. Cultural institutions including libraries also improve the public’s media literacy by sharing information about online privacy and misinformation. Creative and cultural engagement could play a role in reducing violence. An Italian study related a 1% increase in cultural consumption to a 20% reduction in hate crime events. Cultural activities can combat extremism by enabling people to connect and socialise with those of different backgrounds and viewpoints. Arts and culture also provide opportunities to express dissent and opposition in non-violent ways, building democratic resilience. These benefits highlight a pathway for Australia to deliberately promote creative and cultural engagement as a protection for national security. At an international level, cultural relations contribute to peace and security through international mega-events, diplomacy programs and the trade of creative goods and services. Australia’s involvement in the Eurovision Song Contest, for example, allows us to present a contemporary image of our nation, and build relations on shared liberal democratic values. Security is one of five core themes in ANA’s latest Insight Report, ‘Transformative Edge 2024’. The report brings together new fact-based insights on how culture and creativity help Australians to live well - with prosperity, cohesion, security, health and sustainability - and tackle Australia’s deepest social and economic challenges. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gfJS2PAV #anewapproach #thinktank #artsandculture #creativity #security #culturalrelations
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