Barcelona, Spain – 1 October 2025
The Ministry of Cultural Development (MOCD) is proud to have represented the Cook Islands at MONDIACULT 2025, the world’s largest global conference on culture, hosted this year in Barcelona, Spain.
Secretary and Head of Ministry, Emile Kairua, joined cultural leaders from across the globe as a panellist in an official side event organised by IFACCA (International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies) in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Spain. The session, Sustainable pathways for charting the future of arts and culture: In conversation with public agencies, explored how countries can reimagine sustainable pathways for culture, its value, and its investment.
Speaking alongside representatives from Uruguay, Zimbabwe, Viet Nam, Poland, Sweden, and Spain, Mr Kairua highlighted the unique perspectives of small island nations. He emphasised that for the Cook Islands, culture is the living fabric of identity, wellbeing, and prosperity, and that small nations have an important role in shaping global cultural futures.
Participation in MONDIACULT reinforces MOCD’s commitment to protecting and promoting Cook Islands Māori language and culture while building stronger global networks. By engaging in international dialogue, the Ministry ensures Cook Islands voices are heard in shaping global cultural priorities – from climate change and sustainable investment to heritage preservation and cultural innovation.
The week also marked important milestones for the international cultural sector:
- IFACCA launched a Call for Expressions of Interest for the 11th World Summit on Arts and Culture (2028).
- The Call for Expressions of Interest for the second cohort of the IFACCA–Globus Fellowship (2026) was announced.
Both initiatives create opportunities for Cook Islands practitioners and cultural leaders to take part in shaping the future of global arts and culture.
The Ministry extends gratitude to the Ministry of Culture, Spain for their leadership in hosting MONDIACULT 2025, and to the Catalonian National Council for Culture and the Arts (CoNCA) for their support in hosting IFACCA member convenings.