Sustainable Development and Cultural Policy: Do They Make A Happy Marriage?

The aim of this article is to foster debate within the academic community on the notion of culture as the fourth pillar of sustainable development. Is Agenda 21 for Culture not just another way of making the case for increased funding of the arts by the different governments? Are the goals of this fourth pillar not the same as those traditionally found in cultural policies? This article looks at the origins of Agenda 21 and raises questions about its relationship with the challenges facing cultural and arts organizations, the different definitions of the term “culture,” and the distinction between high and popular culture. It explores the links between these questions and the economic and market issues confronting stakeholders in the cultural sector as well as public policy-makers.