With a lifelong passion for culture, Catherine Cullen has for many years been involved in bringing to light the role of culture in sustainable development. Her experience as Deputy Mayor for Culture in the French city of Lille, as coordinator of UNESCO’s International Fund for Cultural Diversity, as E.U. high-level expert on cultural development in cities, and Chair of the United Cities and Local Government’s Culture Committee, has given her a unique perspective on cultural policymaking and practices worldwide. She has strongly advocated for cultural vitality to be considered the 4th pillar of sustainable development, alongside economic viability, social equity, and environmental responsibility.
Since the lockdowns in Europe and elsewhere in March 2020, Catherine Cullen has actively participated in local and global networks on culture and COVID19, exchanging on such topics as culture’s resilience, fragility, capacity to innovate, and ever more important role in sustainability.