Big Data’s role in shaping UNESCO’s cultural policies : a critical analysis within the scope of the 2005 convention on the diversity of cultural expressions

The rise of digital technologies and the vast quantities of data they generate are transforming multiple sectors, including culture. However, the cultural sector’s engagement with these technologies and their potential remains underexplored. Amid rising criticisms of the cultural sector for its inefficient use of existing data and its lack of innovation in leveraging new data sources for the sector's benefit, there are calls for a renewed approach to data use and a nuanced understanding of its impact on cultural policymaking. Big Data, an emerging topic of interest in policymaking, has been studied for its capacity to support evidence-based decision-making. Additionally, it is increasingly being explored as an alternate data source in research within the culture and heritage sector, especially for supporting policymaking. This study examines the broader discourse on the use of Big Data in cultural policymaking, focusing on its perception as an innovation, the stages of its adoption or rejection, and the types of innovation decisions that influence those stages. Anchored in the Diffusion of Innovation theory, the analysis is framed within UNESCO’s 2005 Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. Additionally, the research identifies key challenges and opportunities for integrating Big Data into cultural policymaking, both within the framework of the 2005 Convention and in a broader context. The research proposes a conceptual framework that suggests considering Big Data as a potential facilitator for cultural policy innovation and advocates for its further examination. The research concludes with actionable recommendations and a broad-level guideline for advancing the discussion on the viability of Big Data as an innovation for cultural policymaking.