This week, the British Council released its new report, Culture Matters – why culture should be at the heart of future public policy, at the 2014 International Culture Summit (Edinburgh, 10-12 August).

The Summit organisers invited Culture Ministers, policymakers, artists and commentators to contribute to a wide-ranging conversation across three interlinked topics: to ponder the principles by which culture is valued and measured; to survey and assess a number of international conventions for the promotion and protection of cultural diversity; and to consider the role of cities as incubators of cultural innovation.

The foreword to the publication is by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, who argues that culture is a driver and enabler of inclusive growth and a channel to forge new forms of global solidarity and citizenship; and that it should be at the heart of all public policies, underpinned by human rights and fundamental freedoms.