The Minister of Culture, Ángeles González-Sinde, presided today at the Hostal de los Reyes Católicos in Santiago de Compostela, the XV Plenary Meeting of the Cultural Sector, which brings together officials from the Ministry of Culture and representatives for culture from all the Autonomous Communities in Spain and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla.
At the beginning of the meeting, the General Director of Policy and Cultural Industries and the Minister of Culture and Tourism of Extremadura reported on developments from the Board of Education, Youth and Culture held on 18 and 19 November, which addressed a digital strategy for Europe (cultural / audiovisual). Conclusions were also adopted on the Work Plan for Culture (2011-2014), the role of culture in the fight against poverty and social exclusion, European film heritage and the challenges of the digital age and European cinema in the digital age.
Also, the General Director of Policy and Cultural Industries reported on the results of the pre-selection of candidates for the European Capital of Culture for 2016. Cities that have passed into the final selection stage are Burgos, Córdoba, Donostia / San Sebastian, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Segovia and Zaragoza.
Plenary Agreements
The study on cultural infrastructure management, shows that both in new cultural facilities and in regard to the proper maintenance and use of existing infrastructure, there needs to be laid clear actions and management models to deal with those susceptible in the current context of the need for optimization of existing resources. Therefore, the House has approved the creation, within the framework of the Sector Conference on Culture and according to Article 12 of its Rules, a Working Group to study and make proposals concerning a new management model for cultural infrastructure.
In addition, a new uniform criteria for all calls has been adopted, as has an agreement to appoint three independent representatives to the assessment committee for grant calls from the Ministry of Culture for the year 2011.
Finally, the House has approved the renewal of the Second Vice President of the Cultural Sector Conference. In 2011 the post will be given to the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Autonomous Community of Asturias.