Abstract
In 2015, the United Nations launched the 2030 Agenda outlining 17 SDGs to promote peace and prosperity for people and the planet. Despite its transformative ambition, the Agenda largely overlooks a crucial dimension: culture. Cultural institutions, particularly museums, are scarcely mentioned, even though they play a vital role as mediators and agents of change within their communities. This research explores how international museums and Portuguese municipal cultural departments engage with the SDGs and contribute to sustainable development. It also assesses whether the 2030 Agenda serves as a useful operational tool, specifically, how its theoretical framework translates into practical action within museological institutions and local governance structures in Portugal. The study presents findings from empirical research involving 588 museological institutions and 731 cultural professionals worldwide, as well as a focused analysis of 104 Portuguese municipal cultural departments and their relationship with local museums. Findings indicate that museums and local cultural departments can play a meaningful role in achieving the SDGs, particularly in relation to SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Yet, engagement remains inconsistent and often limited in scope. SDG 11 notably emerges as a cultural and spatial interface, a lived space where all other SDGs converge. Cities and communities are thus framed as territorial ecosystems essential to implementing the Agenda. This study’s replicable methodology offers practical insights to help align cultural policy with institutional missions and advance global sustainability efforts.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2026 Special Focus—The Social Impacts of Geopolitics: Interventions to Strengthen Humanity
KEYWORDS
Agenda 2030; Sustainability; Culture; Museums; Place; Future
