Culture for Impact

Popular culture is a powerful - yet untapped - way to meet people in their everyday lives. It can expose us to fresh perspectives and make us relate to global challenges in a different light. Through the appeal and extensive reach of popular culture—film, music, gaming, sports, and beyond—Museum for the United Nations - UN Live curates cultural experiences that inspire empathy, global collaboration and encourage individuals to act for postive change.

Culture for Impact is an annual recognition celebrating cultural initiatives that unleash the power of popular culture to address major societal challenges and inspire positive change. This year, we have once more received incredible nominations for creative efforts that tackle issues such as social justice, climate change, poverty, mental health, and inclusivity.

See the top 10 list 2025 below, and learn more about the initiatives here.

Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts, Arts
Discover more on 19 December

Artlords, Murals
Discover more on 9 December

Domestic Data Streamers, Technology & Arts
Discover more on 17 December

Future Female Africa, Storytelling

Discover more on 15 December

Lintas Batas x Arka Kinari, Arts & Community Rituals

Discover more on 16 December

‘Ocean’ with David Attenborough powered by Open Planet, Film & Television

Discover more on 12 December

PRIYA, Comics

Discover more on 10 December

The Surf Conservation Program, Sports
Discover more on 18 December

The HERDS, Performance Arts

Discover more on 22 December

Sunshine Cinema, Cinema

Discover more on 11 December

List of 2024

List of 2023

With the UN Live Culture for Impact List 2023, we spotlighted some of the most inspiring and impactful initiatives and work that we encountered in 2023 through our cultural programmes, partnerships and co-creations across the world, linking arts and culture with positive change.

See the 2023 list here.

Selection Criteria

The selection criteria prioritize innovative cultural initiatives addressing societal challenges and fostering change:

Selection Criteria:
🔹 Culture Innovation: Pioneering the use of popular culture for societal change.
🔹 Genre Diversity: Inclusive creative expressions across cultural genres.
🔹 Global Inclusivity: Highlighting global cultural impact and representation.
🔹 Dual Impact: Celebrating both large-scale and grassroots cultural change.

Music

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Film & Television

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Performance Arts

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Fine Arts

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Food

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Literature & Comics

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Fashion

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Social Media and Digital Culture Genres

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Gaming

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Sports

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Music 〰️ Film & Television 〰️ Performance Arts 〰️ Fine Arts 〰️ Food 〰️ Literature & Comics 〰️ Fashion 〰️ Social Media and Digital Culture Genres 〰️ Gaming 〰️ Sports 〰️

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