The First Platform Exchange on Culture and Digitisation is being kindly hosted by the Azerbaijani authorities in Baku, 4-5 July 2014, within the framework of their Chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. It is organised in follow-up to a request by European Ministers of Culture at their 10th Conference in 2013 (Moscow) to set up a platform for exchange on the impact of digitisation on culture and to prepare policy orientation papers on promoting the democratic governance of culture in the digital context.
 
The platform will bring together representatives of Parties to the European Cultural Convention - i.e. Ministries of Culture of all signatory states, cultural and media practitioners, artists and cultural producers, civil society representatives and researchers whose work is focused on the cultural aspects of digitisation as well as representatives of International bodies and Organisations active in this field.

Background
Digitisation is shaping the 21st century: not only in terms of new technology, but also in terms of our information environment’s culture, and is having a significant impact on our societies. In this context, the Council of Europe has highlighted the importance of users’ individual and collective needs, the risks for European cultural diversity and the need for adequate conditions for cultural content production and creativity. Future cultural policy will need to tune into the digital world if it is to continue ensuring the widest possible access to and participation in culture and full usage of the opportunities for individual and collective creativity.

Work focus
Discussions will focus on the digital and pre-digital spheres from two angles:
 
(1) How to bridge gaps between digital and pre-digital cultural institutions?
Subjects covered would include their respective missions, mind-sets, legislation, the professional roles of those working in these institutions, the resources necessary for conversion from the pre-digital to the digital era, the governance of institutions and sector specifics as related to open data and content.
 
(2) How to reconcile digital and pre-digital forms of cultural expression, creation and production?
This would explore the question of new practices and the need for a right for remix, the role of creative commons, roles of creative actors, the convergence of art forms and the role of cities / regions / terroirs in view of the socio-economic impact of their digitized cultural activity. The issues of media literacy and existing divides in the take-up and use of digital technology for cultural purposes –related to questions of societal inclusion and cohesion- will be treated as transversal topics

For further information, see the external link below.