On 19 November 2009, Ruta Prusiviciene, General Director of Vilnius Festival and EFA Board Member, represented both the voice of culture and the European Festivals Association (EFA) in the 7th Brussels Debate. She stressed that arts and culture need to be taken into consideration when talking about innovation policy. The Debate was the last of a series of debates organised in the framework of the European Year for Creativity and Innovation. Discussing the issue of “Towards a creative Europe: What role for creative industries?” panellists took a closer look at how creative industries could be better used as a conduit for innovation for society as a whole and what their place could be in the future European innovation strategy. Ruta Prusiviciene presented the Vilnius Festival as a platform for actors from different sectors – culture, arts, politics, business etc. – to engage in a dialogue. Festival organisers in Lithuania participate in a fierce political, social and cultural debate. Especially in 2009, every artistic event in Vilnius, European Capital of Culture 2009, has inspired the debate, not just about budget, but also about the value of culture and its added value in the long term. The Vilnius Festival has been lobbying at political level for a strengthening of the connection between arts and business. In the framework of Vilnius, European Capital of Culture 2009, seminars and debates on creativity and innovation were organised that involved both artists and business representatives. Mrs Prusiviciene stressed that “too often arts and culture are not involved in policies,” even though for example the festival format especially in 2009 proved to be successful and achieved positive results, in both artistic and economic terms. Other panellists from different sectors related to creative industries included: • Miguel Silvestre, Deputy Mayor of Obidos, Portugal • Anne-Marie Boutin, President, APCI (Agence pour la promotion de la création industrielle), France • Hasan Bakhshi, NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts), UK • Jean-Noël Durvy, Director for Innovation Policy, European Commission - DG Enterprise and Industry The round table came to the conclusion that each sector needs to be creative and that different sectors such as culture, business, science and research need to be connected in order to leave a sustainable impact. Commission representative Jean-Noël Durvy declared that during the process of drafting a new innovation policy the Commission would be open for dialogue with the cultural sector. The European Commission aims to put forward a new innovation plan in 2010. Related links and documents: • News on European Year for Creativity and Innovation website • Film clip • Photos • Background note