9-10-11th may 2007  |  Español

T h e   F i r s t    I n t e r n a c i o n a l    C o n g r e s s   A R T    T E C H   M E D I A

STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARTS AND DIGITAL CULTURE

1.- Institute for the Arts and Digital Culture.

The fundamental idea behind the creation of the Institute is the belief in art and culture as public services, as well as the coordination of cultural policies and existing resources, and the impulse of information and communication technologies for the development of the Knowledge Society, research, the promotion of Art and Digital Culture, its international presence, and collaboration with international organisations and institutions.

The Institute has been conceived as a participative platform consisting of the following: public institutions (Ministries of Culture, Education, Industry, Foreign affairs and Cooperation, the Tax Office, Autonomous Regions and Local Authorities); the world of art (artists and their associations, museums, art centres and media-labs, galleries, art critics, art administrators etc.); corporations; technology companies; associated bodies and patrons; universities; research and development centres; the media and their associated bodies; different social organisations.

- Objectives of the Institute of the Arts and Digital Culture:

•Establish the Institute as an independent organisation, with executive powers, linked to the State and counting on the participation of the world of art and other social organisations.

•Coordinate the resources between institutions, the world of art, technological firms, the media, universities, producers of audio-visual content, research and development centres etc. in order to optimise and generate activities and resources that can be applied by the Administrative bodies and society in general.

•Development of educational programmes for research and development.

•Promotion of Spanish art and digitised culture on a national and international level.

•Collaborate with institutions, museums, art centres, media-labs and other organisations at a national and international level.

•Promote debates and proposals that can be used in the planning of cultural policy.

•Create a permanent forum: Foresight Observatories

We need to push forward the research being carried out within our universities and technology centres. We have to incentive and promote digitised culture, coordinate resources and efforts and, above all, to coordinate cultural policies alongside technological firms and other social organisations to ensure that creativity centres, which generate an innovative industrial fabric, flourish and attract investment, because otherwise we will not be able to complain that others do what we have failed to do. Spain and other countries do not need to replicate what already exists, but rather to live in an environment of innovation in order to construct a shared cohesive future without exclusion.

2.- Network of well resourced Experimental Centres for the Development of the Arts and Digital Culture

Independently of large scale art centres already in existence or currently being developed, we believe that in order to be truly operative today and to respond flexibly to the challenges that are emerging at an overwhelming rate, it is more practical to form experimental centres organised into small working groups.
This network attempts to respond to the needs so strongly expressed by administrative bodies, artists, museums and cultural centres, technology firms, the media, universities, research centres etc. for the creation and dissemination of contents and to drive the Society of Information and Knowledge. Collaboration between institutions and organisations throughout in a project that share these characteristics will facilitate greater social participation and generate an innovative creative and economic infrastructure.

- Activities and scope of the project

a) Creation of digital applications and contents for artistic and cultural activities on line, such as video-art, interactive TV etc.

b) Development of personalised and collaborative content for the internet, aimed at interaction and creativity in social networks.

c) Creation of networks or communities among the different agents working in the sector of digitised content at a national, regional and local level, in order to create contents, adopt common standards and interconnect existing resources.

d) Create digitised content and services that will add value to new possibilities and benefits stemming from access to the Information Society for individuals, companies and public bodies.

e) Develop pilot and demonstration experiments that promote the use of information and content within the public sector.

f) Hold conferences, workshops and meetings…

3.- Council for the Arts and Digital Culture

The creation of this council is not a new demand but today it seems to be more necessary than ever. The implementation of information and communication technologies in all sectors of society but especially in art and culture makes it essential to recognise this and encourage the public’s collaboration and participation in cultural policy making.

The Council will be formed by representatives of governmental bodies, the art world, universities and research centres, technology firms and corporations, the media, and other social organisations.

As part of its main functions, the Council will carry out the following:

a) It will be formed by representatives of institutions, cultural and artistic organisations, universities and research centres, corporations and technology firms and other social organisations.

b) It will prepare proposals for the coordination of cultural policies.

c) It will establish cooperative relationships with other Art Councils abroad.

CONCLUSIONS 1st International Congress Art Tech Media

The process of setting up a highly ambitious initiative can be long, costly and at times painful. But we are convinced that the time is right for a collective reflection on the profound changes brought about by the implementation of new technologies in society and, especially in the arts, this offers an exceptional challenge - to attain an insight into the real world of art through the experience of its practitioners. It has also taught us that it is possible to realise your dreams when you believe in an idea, when you dedicate all your time and effort and thanks to the generosity and understanding of many people and institutions.

Clearly, impressive efforts have been made in Spain for the development of cultural infrastructures and in the provision of human and technical resources but it is not enough. The debates have left no doubt that it is necessary to establish mechanisms for the coordination of cultural policies that will allow us to optimise resources and efforts, to encourage collaboration of universities, research centres and technology companies with the art world, facilitating creativity and its promotion both nationally and internationally.

In a rapid assessment we can consider that in general Spain somewhat lags behind its cultural and economic counterparts, in terms of innovation and the development of technology applied to creativity, its societal implementation and also that Spanish artists are relatively unknown around the world.

Doubtlessly the coordination and cooperation between Administrative bodies and the sectors of society involved would lead to greater development of the innovative sector required in industry and increased and improved art projects.

Given the great human potential and the development in its infrastructures. Spain has a chance to rise to the forefront of research and the various applications both creative and societal of new technologies.

There are many problems to be faced but a solution can be found for them all. We have also been able to ascertain the importance of existing resources. Nevertheless, the aspect that we would highlight is the willingness of all the players to coordinate cultural policies and other questions for the promotion of art and digitised cultural in Spain and their participation in global networks in order to help articulate the means necessary in the search for those solutions that would improve the implementation and quality of creativity and improve its visibility at a global level.

It is fundamental that with all this, the expectations generated are fully reached and that we can count upon the institutional support required for the development of the necessary means to establish a Strategic Plan for the Development of the Arts and Digital Culture in which the various Administrative bodies and society as a whole will collaborate.

In addition to the collaboration of speakers, institutions and participating organisations at the Conference, we have received support from a variety of individuals and institutions both national and international, but who were unable to attend the event because of prior commitments.

ANNEXES

1.- Other proposals made at the 1st Internacional Art Tech Media 07 Conference.

a) The proposal presented for debate at the Conference: the creation of an Institute of the Arts and Digital Culture was widely supported by the international speakers as an effective organisational instrument in advanced societies in order to establish the collaborative relationship required between institutions, the art world and society.
This support was backed up by their willingness to act as international consultant, which would contribute to their relationship with the arts .

b) Recommendation by the Art Tech Media Cultural Association for an Ibero-American conference similar to the one held in Spain.

c) Creation of a Global Council for the Arts and Digital Culture under the auspices of UNESCO and other international organisations that will act as a guide for the international community. It was proposed that there should be a call for a Global Arts and Digitised Culture Assembly.

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-- books
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-- Strategic Plan
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-- official opening
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