About the UKCCD
Cultural policy determines which stories are told and which voices are heard
Our Mission
The UK Coalition for Cultural Diversity (UKCCD) champions the protection and promotion for the diversity of cultural expressions in the UK and internationally. We work to implement the principles of UNESCO’s 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions – a landmark treaty recognising the unique cultural and economic value of the creative industries, and promoting fairer North-South exchange.
As a member of the European Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (ECCD) and the International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD), UKCCD represents UK civil society in global cultural policy debates. We collaborate with governments, UNESCO, and over 600 international cultural organisations to ensure the voices of artists, creators, and cultural organisations are heard.
Our Work Includes
Advising UK government bodies and the UK Commission for UNESCO on cultural policy.
Monitoring the impact of UK and EU legislation on the cultural and audiovisual sectors
Advocating for strong public service broadcasting and cultural sovereignty in trade agreements
Addressing the impact of emerging technologies and AI on diversity of cultural expressions.
Promoting the role of culture in sustainable development
Representing civil society at UNESCO and other international forums
Through advocacy, research, and strategic partnerships, we strive to protect cultural expression, support creative communities, and influence policy for a fair and diverse global cultural landscape.
To Promote
Diversity of cultural expressions is a cornerstone of vibrant, democratic societies. By supporting UNESCO’s 2005 Convention we promote the recognition of culture not only as an economic driver but also as a vital expression of identity, creativity and our cultural rights. We work to raise awareness of the Convention’s principles through national and international dialogue.
To Support
We support creative workers and cultural organisations by championing their role in sustainable development, local production and international exchange and cooperation.
To Defend
We defend the rights of the creative sector against threats that may compromise creators’ rights and diversity of cultural expressions. This includes monitoring trade agreements, legislation, and technological developments – such as Artificial Intelligence – that may compromise cultural diversity. We advocate for the protection of public service media and the exclusion of culture from trade deals.
To Monitor
We engage with emerging challenges and opportunities in the digital age to help shape policies that reflect the evolving realities of culture and technology. This includes tracking the impact of AI, online platforms, and digital regulation on access to – and diversity of – cultural expressions. We promote innovation while safeguarding the values of the Convention.
To Campaign
We campaign for robust cultural policies that uphold the rights of civil society and creative communities. As the UK representative within European and international coalitions, we bring together organisations, institutions, and individuals to push for meaningful change in favour of our cultural rights and access to the full diversity of cultural expressions. Our advocacy work aims to influence national, European, and global decision-making in favour of diverse cultural expression.
Who we are
Holly Aylett and Carole Tongue are long-standing advocates for cultural diversity, each with decades of experience in media, policy, and international cultural leadership.
Dr Carole Tongue
Chair
Carole Tongue, FRSA is a former Member of the European Parliament (EP) for London East (1984–1999) and Deputy Leader of the European Parliamentary Labour Party (1989–1991).
As Coordinator for the Socialist Group on Culture, Media, Sport, Education and Youth (1994–1999), she championed public service broadcasting and her 1996 EP Report on Public Service Broadcasting led to a key PSB protocol in the 1997 EU Amsterdam Treaty. She founded a TV/Film consortium of trade unions and creators in 1995 to defend cultural diversity in broadcasting and film.
Carole co-founded the UK Coalition for Cultural Diversity and became President of the European Coalitions for Cultural Diversity in 2014. In 2015 she founded Creatives4Europe to campaign for a Remain vote in the EU referendum. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Lincoln for services to the public interest in broadcasting and the Beaumarchais medal for services to cultural diversity and author’s rights in 2022.
Holly Aylett
Executive director
Holly Aylett studied English Literature at Cambridge University before joining the BBC and later working internationally as an independent documentary producer/director.
She is founding editor of Vertigo (1993–2010), UK’s leading independent film quarterly, founder and director of the Independent Film Parliament (2003–2010) and represented culture as an expert for UK’s UNESCO Commission (2009-2012). In 2016 she authored the pan-European report Where Are the Women Directors? (European Women’s Audiovisual Network, 2016), a landmark study on gender equality in Europe’s film industry.
Currently, Holly is an Associate Research Fellow at Birkbeck, University of London, co-founder of the UK Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (UKCCD) and serves on the board of the International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD), which works with over 600 creator organisations to shape global cultural policy.
The UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions was adopted in Paris on 20 October 2005 and came into force in March 2007. It emerged in response to growing concerns that globalisation and market-driven cultural exchanges were threatening the diversity of cultural expressions worldwide. The Convention was designed to affirm the sovereign right of states to formulate and implement policies that support the diversity of cultural expressions within their territories, while also fostering international cooperation. It builds on earlier UNESCO instruments, such as the 2001 Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, and reflects a broader recognition that cultural diversity is a vital component of sustainable development, peace, and human rights.
At its core, the Convention seeks to create an enabling environment where artists, cultural professionals, and citizens can produce, distribute, and enjoy a wide range of cultural goods and services. It encourages the integration of culture into national and international development strategies and promotes equitable access to cultural expressions, especially for marginalised communities and developing countries.
The Convention also emphasises the importance of civil society, education, and public awareness in safeguarding cultural diversity of expressions. Its operational guidelines help parties to implement its principles effectively in both physical and digital environments.
Our History
UKCCD is dedicated to defending cultural rights and promoting the diversity of cultural expressions in the UK, using the framework established by UNESCO’s 2005 Convention. The term ‘diversity of cultural expressions’ refers to inclusivity and pluralism at local and international level, going beyond the more limited concept of cultural diversity as commonly applied in policy in the UK. As a founding member of the International Federation of Coalitions, established in 2007, we play a leading role in representing civil society alongside government at UNESCO. Within the European region, we also work at a high level with creators’ organisations, the European Parliament, and the European Commission.