"This World Day is a timely reminder that art can unite and connect us even in the most difficult situations," said Azoulay in a message published on UNESCO's electronic portal, referring to the vital importance of art and culture for humanity and their fundamental role in achieving unity and resilience.

In this regard, Azoulay noted the imperative of advocating for an adequate status for artists, as called for in the Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist (1980), to strengthen both the respect of their rights and the resilience of arts and culture.

Approximately 10 million jobs have been destroyed in the cultural and creative sectors worldwide by 2020, according to the February 2022 UNESCO report "Rethinking Policies for Creativity: Culture as a Global Public Good."

"In a field where jobs are often informal and precarious, and in the absence of adequate social protection, artists and cultural professionals too often find themselves in a vulnerable position when faced with the loss of income caused by crises and conflicts," she argued.

In the same vein, the UNESCO chief said that a double challenge is necessary, today and tomorrow, to enable art to survive. It is, on the one hand, to support cultural professionals and cultural institutions, and, on the other hand, to promote access to art for everyone.

In this sense, she emphasized the need to identify priority needs through listening to the voices of the art world in all its diversity.

She further noted that "the challenges we currently face can only be met within the framework of cultural policies to help creative communities to overcome this crisis and to protect and improve the status of artists."