Digitisation and new technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, blockchain, 3-D printing and big data can trigger innovation at all levels of the creative sectors. Yet we observe a growing gap between technology and culture. Culture, and with it society, are struggling to catch up with the exponential speed of technological innovation.

The Technology/Culture Innovation GAP in CCS

Credits: Frankfurt Book Fair

 

At present, it seems that each player – and each sector – is grappling on its own with these innovation challenges. But what if there was a wider European innovation support ecosystem – one that cut transaction costs and boosted the creative sectors to a digital level? What if the creative sectors had all the opportunities that befit the rank as a European key sector? What are the best ways to support tech-triggered innovation in the cultural and creative sectors (CCS)?

The creative sectors are very good at communicating other people’s messages and stories. Yet when it comes to articulating their own interests, their voice is surprisingly weak. This has a lot to do with fragmentation, as the majority of creative players are micro-entities. On top of that, the creative sectors are not (yet) united, “they still often work in sectoral silos.”[1]

Still, European players have done a great job in the past decade by arguing the social, economic and cultural relevance of the creative sectors in several studies. In 2016, the European Parliament demanded – finally! – a coherent policy for the creative sectors as a key European industry: “What we need is a comprehensive industrial strategy at the European level that will take all specific characteristics of cultural and creative industries into account, and will turn challenges like digitalisation (…) into new growth and job opportunities.”[2] This report is a rare and beautiful example of what can happen if industry and culture put their heads together – it was written jointly by the Industry (ITRE) and Culture Committee of the European Parliament. But to create a coherent policy, what is needed first and foremost is a strong voice of the CCS. This is currently still lacking[3].

WHAT do we intend to do about this challenge at THE ARTS+ Innovation Summit?

THE ARTS+ Innovation Summit aims to explore structural innovation barriers, and search for possible solutions for adequate innovation support ecosystems – in Europe, but also on a national scale. We are convinced that the creative sectors have many innovation needs in common. New technologies trigger innovation on all levels, be it content, products, services, processes, methods, organizational cultures, business models, value networks, skills, competences and more. When we say ”CCS” we don’t think along the lines of “commercial” or “publicly funded”, we think of creative people and the value they generate. We know there is a lack of knowledge – and awareness – of these very special innovation processes. And for that reason there’s also a lack of coherent innovation support frameworks.

We agree with Mariana Mazzucato, author of The Entrepreneurial State, when she highlights the need to “develop a new industrial policy (…) in which the state (plays) a leading entrepreneurial role in achieving innovation-led growth.” (p. 15) Yet growth is not the only potential benefit. Values, skills and competences are equally important.

And HOW do we want to achieve our goal?

In 2017 we gathered a small, yet influential international network of more than 80 diverse individuals and institutions, ranging from policymakers, researchers, creative entrepreneurs, creators, sector players and intermediaries such as cluster organisations, associations or institutions like OECD and the German Commission for UNESCO. The event laid the ground for THE ARTS+ Innovation Summit in 2018, a high-ranking gathering of passionate pioneers…

This year, the extended network will aim to identify common innovation barriers and explore core demands for innovation support for the creative sectors as a whole. In addition, we will take a closer look at Cultural Heritage and Book Publishing and explore their sector-specific characteristics, as well as any overlaps with other creative sectors.

THE ARTS+ Innovation Summit 2018 consists of three complementary components, taking place on Wednesday 10 October between 11.30 and 6.30 pm. The venue is THE ARTS+ Salon, located within THE ARTS+ in hall 4.1., Frankfurt Book Fair, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.  A press event is planned for Thursday, 11 October, 11 am.

To boost the creative sectors to the “digital level”, we need a strong innovation support framework, built collectively. Join us at THE ARTS+ Innovation Summit 2018!

INTERESTED TO BE PART?

Registration is required, the events are free, but by invitation only. If you are interested in getting an invitation, please pre-register below, and please contact Nina Klein at  klein@book-fair.com if you have any questions. Invited participants will receive a free 5 day trade visitor ticket, valid for entry to the Frankfurter Buchmesse and THE ARTS+.

Please pre-register here

or contact: Nina Klein, Associate Partner, Curator THE ARTS+ Innovation Summit

klein@book-fair.com

THE ARTS+ Innovation Summit

Schedule

11.30 am – 1.00 pm

INNOVATION SUMMIT I: BREAK-OUT SESSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE

Peer-to-peer workshop (max. 100 participants)

THE ARTS+ Salon

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

THE ARTS+ Innovation Summit Networking Lunch

Please note that this lunch is open only to the participants of THE ARTS+ Innovation Summit.

THE ARTS+ Salon

2.00 – 3.30 pm

INNOVATION SUMMIT II: BREAK-OUT SESSION ON BOOK PUBLISHING

Peer-to-peer workshop (max. 100 participants)

THE ARTS+ Salon

4.00 – 6.30 pm

INNOVATION SUMMIT III: THE BIGGER PICTURE: A STRONG VOICE FOR INNOVATION SUPPORT

Conference with a pronounced workshop character (max. 100 participants)

THE ARTS+ Salon

The Innovation Summit is by invitation only and spaces are limited (max. 100).

Please contact Nina Klein klein@book-fair.com and pre-register here if you’re interested in attending: XING-Event

FUNDING PARTNERS:

The Innovation Summit is organized as part of ALDUS, the European Book Fairs’ Network, and is co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.

STRATEGIC & FUNDING PARTNERS:

PROGRAMME PARTNERS:

NETWORK PARTNERS:

[1] “Mapping the Creative Value Chains”, study commissioned by the EU Commission (DG EAC), 2017, p. 304, https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/4737f41d-45ac-11e7-aea8-01aa75ed71a1/language-en

[2] European Parliament Report: „On a coherent EU Policy for the CCI“, 2016, http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+REPORT+A8-2016-0357+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN

[3] “Mapping the Creative Value Chains. A study on the economy of culture in the digital age”, KEA/IDEA/SMIT, commissioned by the European Commission/ DG EAC, 2017, p. 305, http://www.keanet.eu/wp-content/uploads/Final-report-Creative-Value-Chains.pdf