Participants attend an international forum at the UN headquarters in New York, on June 26, 2025. The forum was held Thursday to explore the role of art and cultural collaboration in promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event brought together artists, scholars, diplomats, and experts from various fields to discuss how artistic practices and cultural dialogue can contribute to inclusive and sustainable global development. (Photo by Ada Zhang/Xinhua)

by Ada Zhang

UNITED NATIONS, June 26 (Xinhua) -- An international forum was held Thursday at the UN headquarters in New York to explore the role of art and cultural collaboration in promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The event brought together artists, scholars, diplomats, and experts from various fields to discuss how artistic practices and cultural dialogue can contribute to inclusive and sustainable global development.

Zeng Jinsong, secretary general of the Institute of Global Industry, Tsinghua University, and chairman of the Beijing Global Ballet Center, noted the significance of holding such a forum on the UN Charter Day.

"Art is not merely an expression of beauty. It is a universal language that connects humanity," Zeng said in his opening remarks. He emphasized the importance of empowering artists and institutions worldwide to collaborate across disciplines and regions in support of a shared global mission. "Each of us is both a witness and a participant in the unfolding story of human artistic achievement," he said.

Lu Xiaobo, director of the Tsinghua University Art Museum and a senior professor of Liberal Art, said that art transcends institutions and national boundaries, serving as spiritual flames that sustain human civilization.

Lu stressed that cultural diversity is a shared spiritual asset of humankind, and that the principle of "seeking harmony without uniformity, and appreciating beauty in all its forms" should serve as a cultural foundation for building a shared future for humanity.

Claudio Rocca, former director of the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze (Florence Academy of Fine Arts), said art has served as a fundamental mode of human communication since prehistory, long before the invention of writing. "Art is freedom, interdisciplinary dialogue, and openness to difference," he said, adding that in an age of rapid technological change, the creative spirit must continue to evolve without losing sight of its historical roots.

Jose Felix Bentz, president of the Reial Cercle Artistic of Barcelona, Spain, emphasized the connection between art, culture, and peace. Recalling the World Peace Forum held in Barcelona in 2023, he noted how artistic expression can serve as a form of cultural diplomacy.

"Art emerges not as an adornment, but as a fundamental tool to build bridges, generate empathy and remind us of our shared humanity," he said.

Ann-Marie Richard, director of Sotheby's Institute of Art, traced the historical relationship between artistic movements and environmental awareness.

The forum featured a series of panel discussions on the intersection of art, technology, education, and youth responsibility. Experts from across disciplines explored questions such as the role of artificial intelligence in creative processes, the future of arts education in a globalized world, and the responsibilities of the next generation of artists.

At the panel discussion on the future landscape of education and the arts, Liu Tianhua, lecturer at the Academy of Arts and Design at Tsinghua University, reflected on the role of art in connecting tradition and innovation.

Recalling his upbringing in a rural village in western China, Liu said his personal journey into the world of art through Chinese calligraphy is both a cultural vehicle and a spiritual discipline.

He said that art must remain human-centered and socially responsible. "Art should not only present beauty," Liu said, "but also help us question what it means to be human and how we coexist."

A parallel exhibition themed "Arts for Sustainable Development" also opened at the United Nations, showcasing works by artists from nine countries. The exhibition featured ink painting, photography, textile art, and installations made from biomaterials. It addressed a range of SDG-related issues, including climate change, biodiversity, education, gender equality, and urban development.

This year's forum coincides with the 80th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter, a milestone widely recognized as the foundation of modern multilateralism. Organizers said the event aims to strengthen the integration of art into global development frameworks and to encourage long-term collaboration across cultural and policy sectors, according to a news release from the forum.

The forum was co-hosted by the UN Institute for Training and Research New York Office, the International Academy for Arts and Cultural Studies, and the Global Ballet Center. Supporting institutions included Lingnan University and several regional alumni associations of Tsinghua University in North America. ■

Participants attend an international forum at the UN headquarters in New York, on June 26, 2025. The forum was held Thursday to explore the role of art and cultural collaboration in promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event brought together artists, scholars, diplomats, and experts from various fields to discuss how artistic practices and cultural dialogue can contribute to inclusive and sustainable global development. (Photo by Ada Zhang/Xinhua)