Barcelona, 18th to 21th december 2009  |  Español

A R T E C H M E D I A

II International Conference ART TECH MEDIA 09 " Innovation, Networks & New Media at the Culture & Social Development

The culture of technological innovation within the economic and creative process, within the reach of all society, should form the guidelines that all policies adopt, at both an institutional and corporative level, becoming their principal sign of identity.

Cultural diversity, cemented over history, and the clear commitment to the most advanced ideas and the future are the greatest riches that we possess, and from this perspective, we need to develop proposals for innovation and technological development at the service of people as a model for a world based on individual participation, responsibility, and democratic co-existence. Establishing real support mechanisms for different cultures, their cross-cutting relationship and the use of new media, promotes solidarity, social cohesion and the participation of individuals who are keen to play a role in public life, to be listened to and to be taken into account.

The Alliance of Civilisations and the development of the innovation culture is the ideal path that leads us to a creative meeting point between nations and societies that avoids discrimination and inequalities that have been the source of all kinds of conflict. We are witnessing and taking part in a change of global dimension at a cultural and economic level. The old paradigms through which we have maintained our reality cannot be used to respond to the demands of this new society of digital culture. The current recession, which is having an impact on wide sectors of the population, offers us opportunities to change the model, but it also forces us to think and revise our economic and social policies.

The development of ICTs, especially the internet and the generation of cultural networks, makes changes in the economy possible and allows social relationships to play a role in all sectors of a society that is more cohesive and just. The collaboration between the Arts, Science, Innovation, Technology, Business, and Institutions will help to form the content for a real Society of Knowledge and the drive for an economy based on creativity and sustainable technological innovation and not on territorial consumerism.

In this context, with the objective of promoting the exchange of knowledge, to encourage artistic creation and the collaboration between various social sectors related to creativity and technological innovation, at both a national and international level, since 2004, through ART TECH MEDIA, we have been organising and directing debates and calls for the drive towards creativity, innovation and digital culture in all societies, as well as the creation of a large global network for institutional, corporative, and individual collaboration to encourage knowledge, participation and exchange of ideas and projects that help to optimise resources through responsible management.

During 2006, we organised and directed Encuentros 06, in nine museums, including the CCCB and the Reina Sofia - debates and projections for the international call on Digital Culture. In the 18 months of debate, we dealt with a number of related topics surrounding new media and the attitude of those responsible from various sectors for assimilating the changes that Information and Communication Technologies in the main are instigating in creativity and in all spheres of society. More than ninety speakers took part in the Encuentros and 500 artists participated in various calls.

In 2007 we organised the First International ART TECH MEDIA 07 Conference, Art and New Technologies, in which 50 speakers from 22 countries took part and over 60 Spanish and international institutions and organisations collaborated. The conference was held at the Minsitry of Culture, the Casa de America and Cervantes Institute and was chaired by the Minister for Culture at the time, Carmen Calvo.

The main question that we tackled at the conference was the opportunity and the need to create a stable and representative Platform, with a defined set of objectives aimed at the development of the arts and digital culture on a globalised scale. A meeting point for knowledge, exchange of ideas and projects with the aim of promoting the creative use of new technologies, and optimising efforts and resources designated for innovation.

At the same time, there was debate surrounding the need to design a Strategic Plan for the Development of the Arts, Innovation and Digital Culture. In the months that followed the Plan was developed in collaboration with the participants of the debates. Its development will set up stable alliances between institutions, the art world, technology businesses and other social sectors. It will significantly impact on the strengthening of an innovative creative and economic fabric with high added value. The Plan has been presented to representatives of central government, regional governments, other institutions and organisations at both a national and international level, and has received a great deal of support.

In 2008 in Cordoba, we organised the International ART TECH MEDIA Forum, “Art, Science, Innovation, Technology and Society” in preparation for the II International ART TECH MEDIA Conference, “Innovation, New Media, and Networks in Culture and Social Development” to be held in December 2009 in Barcelona.

In October 2009, in the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, we organised and directed the European Conference, “Creativity, Innovation, Digital Culture and Citizenship in the Building of Europe”. It revolved around two central themes: the European Year of Creativity and Innovation and the Spanish presidency of the EU in 2010.

There has been wide support for the call for the II Conference to tackle these and other questions aimed at instigating an organisational improvement and development in cultural infrastructures in cities in the 21 st century responding to current challenges. It will allow us to confront, consensually, the best way to articulate demands from the different sectors linked to art, science, innovation, technology, business, institutions and society and to respond to the wishes for participation of society in the development of an inclusive, integrated digital culture.

We are convinced that there is a great opportunity at this time to elevate excellence in creativity based on research and innovation in collaboration with institutions and technological cooperation and coproduction as well as collaboration between institutions and international organisations, All this will undoubtedly help the global promotion of art, creativity and the development of our most contemporary culture, offering an image of Spain at the vanguard of innovative ideas and proposals. We find ourselves in a unique position for offering and presenting those ideas that revolve around institutions, people and groups with a high international profile, for cooperation and stable collaboration in ideas and projects, aimed at the development of intercultural dialogue through art, innovation and digital culture.

At the same time, we can and should take the lead in proposals that respond to the challenges that the information and communication society have presented to our societies in a globalised world. Many countries admire the courage of these proposals. Now is the time, also, to demonstrate and show the world the quality and vision of the future through our policies and the preparation of society in aspects of creativity, research and innovation and their decisive support in the construction of the Knowledge Society by actively participating in its development.

The main questions that are proposed for its development are:

Creation of a Global Public and Professional Network for Art, Science, Innovation, Technology, Business and Institutions with information and resources for exchange and collaboration between all sectors related to digital culture both nationally and internationally.

Development of a Strategic Place that will contain, among other sections, proposals for cultural resources in the city of the 21st century.

Create an environment that is conducive to intercultural dialogue, the dissemination and promotion of art, science and ideas, and the most innovative projects developed within Spain.

The future is already upon us and it is here to stay, with or without us. And we cannot allow others to design and lead its development.

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