Paul Schafer
Author and educator
I’ve spent my career exploring the vast potential of culture—how it shapes societies, influences global development, and connects us as human beings. Through the online platform World Culture Project, which I founded, and the books I have written, I’ve sought to deepen our understanding of culture’s essential role in the future of humanity.
I’ve dedicated my life to understanding and advocating for culture’s place at the heart of human development. My journey began in economics, teaching international development and the history of economic thought at Dalhousie and Acadia Universities. But I quickly realised that while economics explains markets, it doesn’t explain people. That realisation led me to the world of culture, where I have worked ever since—as an author, educator, administrator, and advisor.
Watch my interview and discover more of my work here.
From 1967 to 1970, I served as Assistant Director of the Ontario Arts Council, helping to shape arts funding and policy in Canada. I then established and directed the Graduate Programme in Arts Administration at York University (1970–1974) before taking on roles at the University of Toronto, coordinating programmes in arts administration and international development (1984–1990).
From 1967 to 1970, I served as Assistant Director of the Ontario Arts Council, helping to shape arts funding and policy in Canada. I then established and directed the Graduate Programme in Arts Administration at York University (1970–1974) before taking on roles at the University of Toronto, coordinating programmes in arts administration and international development (1984–1990).
Alongside these roles, I worked with UNESCO, Canada’s Department of External Affairs (now Global Affairs Canada), and other institutions to explore the ways in which culture can influence policy, diplomacy, and sustainable development.
In 1989, I founded the World Culture Project, an initiative officially recognised by UNESCO as part of the World Decade for Cultural Development. This project grew from my belief that we have only scratched the surface of what culture and cultures can contribute to global challenges.
Through this work, I have written extensively about the transition from an economic age to a cultural age, exploring how culture can foster greater harmony, sustainability, and social equity. My books, including Culture – Beacon of the Future, Revolution or Renaissance, The Age of Culture, and The Great Cultural Awakening (2024), all reflect this lifelong inquiry.
At the heart of my work is a simple yet urgent idea: culture should not be a footnote in global discussions—it should be central. Whether through the arts, shared values, or the ways we organise our societies, culture holds the key to a more just and sustainable future. Through my research, writing, and advocacy, I hope to contribute to a world where culture is recognised not just as entertainment or tradition, but as the foundation for meaningful progress.
