Further digitalisation of the cultural and creative sector offers opportunities for creative innovation and to reach more people and inspire them culturally. It also contributes to the social relevance and economic strengthening of the sector. But there is also a great opportunity for the Netherlands to be a leader in Europe as a creative hub. This is the right time to invest in a multi-year strategic digitisation agenda for culture.
This is stated in an advice from the Council for Culture to the cabinet, provinces, municipalities, cultural funds and the cultural and creative sector. The advice will be presented from 11:00 during a online symposium.
The right moment
Digital cultural content is developing into an increasingly valuable addition to cultural and creative practice. The Netherlands has a solid digital infrastructure and an innovative technology sector, providing a rock-solid starting point for the further digital transformation of the cultural and creative sector. That transformation has already begun in part due to increased technological capabilities. It was accelerated during the corona crisis. The right time to invest further and not let the acquired knowledge go to waste is now.
Challenges
For this, there are still some challenges to overcome. For instance, fragmentation within the sector sometimes still stands in the way of the necessary cooperation, meaning that the digital wheel has to be reinvented more than once. The subsidy instruments of central government, funds and local authorities are not yet sufficiently geared towards digital creation and production. For instance, performance reporting of subsidies does not always include the digital reach of cultural offerings. The council also points to the need for large investments in digital production and distribution of cultural offerings.
Collaborative labs and hubs
The council advises the government to focus on cooperation between the cultural and creative sector and other domains, such as technology, science and education, when developing the multi-year strategic digitisation agenda. This can be done by facilitating collaboration labs and hubs, where knowledge and skills are combined from various perspectives. Existing regional and local knowledge and practice networks in various places in the Netherlands should be mapped and strengthened for this purpose. Large and smaller parties can benefit from the flywheel function this cooperation generates, artistically, socially and economically.
Interactive digital platform for culture
Furthermore, the council recommends exploring the possibilities for an interactive digital platform for culture, including the possibilities offered by NPO. The council warns that the sector should avoid being completely dependent on existing commercial platforms, such as YouTube. As a result, the sector will lose ownership.
Digital skills
Finally, the council points to the shortage of digitally skilled staff, without whom the digital transformation is unthinkable. Real action is needed here, especially since jobs in the cultural and creative sector cannot compete with other sectors in terms of pay. The council sees retraining and upskilling in digital skills within the sector as a promising opportunity. State Secretary Uslu of Culture and Media recently made one million euros available within the framework of Permanent Professional Development. The council sees this as a good first step.
Expert Committee
The council opinion was prepared by a committee of experts from the cultural and creative sector, science and business, chaired by Ilona Haaijer. The committee also included Emilie Gordenker, Henca Maduro, Wouter van Ransbeek, Alexander Ribbink, Edo Righini and Liesbet van Zoonen.
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