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Festival in portrait

Quote of the Week

"Culture is not an optional extra! It is a key driver!"

Fiona Hyslop, Scottish Minister for Culture and External Affairs, in the framework of a seminar on "European Festivals: Driving Success Through Culture"

Culturelink releases publication "Networks: The Evolving Aspects of Culture in the 21st Century"

Friday, 10-06-2011

Culturelink's new publication, edited by Biserka Cvjeticanin, marks twenty years of its continuous networking and research activities in cultural development, cultural policies, intercultural communication and international cultural cooperation.

Researchers from all continents investigate the role and relevance that cultural networks have in cultural development and communication, and new perspectives of cultural networking in the 21st century. Special consideration is given to the position of cultural networks within cultural policy structures and to the effective usage of innovative information and communication technologies.

The book has four main chapters. The first one addresses the need of redefinition of cultural policies in the light of the convergence of culture and the digital environment and the overall global interconnectedness of economic, political and social changes. The second chapter examines the usage of innovative ICTs and networking applications that significantly develop the modes and scope of activities of cultural networks. The third chapter emphasizes the role of networks in artists’ mobility. Networks link like-minded organizations and individuals over large distances into an interactive and cooperative association, facilitating participative and transformational art, as well as the exchange, promotion and distribution of cultural production. The fourth chapter embraces case studies from all regions and provides comparative examples and experiences from across the world. Although they are each different, these case studies highlight the need to revisit the concepts surrounding the establishment and development of cultural networks, as well as their current status, key actors, dominant approaches and challenges.

The evolving networking culture is the issue of the fifth chapter. It analyses networking culture within its current context and perspectives, and raises some fundamental questions about the future of networking and the possible futures of cultural networks.

Related links
• Culturelink Newsletter Special Issue / June 2011
• The book can be ordered here
• The table of contents and foreword are already online