13 June 2023
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How digital technology is changing the cultural & creative processes 

Summer Academy on Cultural and Creative Industries and Local Development

Date: 18-20 September (online), 27-29 September (on-site)
Venue: Trento, Italy
Participation: free of charge for the online session, 100€ for on-site participation
Registration: via online form until 2 July 2023
Language: English

The OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) Trento Centre for Local Development will host the 6th edition of its Summer Academy – a format established within a three-year project back in 2018-2020. This years’ event will take place between 18 and 20 September 2023 in digital format, and will be followed by an on-site module from 27-29 September 2023 in Trento, Italy.

The Summer Academy provides capacity building for policy makers and representatives of cultural and creative sectors (CCS). At the end of the course, participants will acquire a deeper understanding of the sector, its needs and dynamics. They will also develop expertise in putting in place effective and integrated strategies and policy frameworks to unleash the full potential of CCS as drivers for local economic growth, job creation and inclusion.

Objectives

The Summer Academy seeks to: 

  • Stimulate sharing of knowledge and experience among participants, experts and professionals from several fields related to cultural and creative industries (CCIs).
  • Provide common interpretation tools that will be applied to the analysis of participants’ case studies as well as projects and local practices aimed at promoting CCIs’ and local development.
  • Analyse the process of culture-driven social-economic innovation and the role of CCIs.
  • Foster networking and debate around relevant case studies and best practices from the Trentino and Alto Adige – Südtirol (Italy) region and across OECD.
  • Examine the CCI entrepreneurial process and the importance of creativity and innovation.
  • Promote online and offline social networks among participants in order to exchange knowledge, practical experiences and work methodologies, on CCIs’ and local development.

Disrupting tradition: How digital technology is changing the cultural and creative processes 

Digital technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace, impacting almost every aspect of our lives. As governments and experts around the world raise concerns over the implications of technologies such as artificial intelligence, we ask what these advances mean for cultural production, cultural access, and ethical cultural practice.

The 21st century’s advances in digital technology are changing the way we live, work and relate to one another. Dubbed by many as the “4th industrial revolution”, this chapter in human history is characterised by ubiquitous digital technology, operating through the manipulation of data, in an ever more connected world. In this scenario, the lines between the creative economy and the digital economy become blurred. As new platforms for cultural consumption have emerged, together with new tools for creating and customising cultural and social experiences, everyone can be a creator, a critic, an influencer, an activist. In this new digital/creative landscape, old intermediaries are displaced and new opportunities for both the democratisation and the exploitation of culture and creativity emerge.

The sixth edition of the Summer Academy will take a close look at how advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), 3D printing and blockchain, alongside digital platform intermediaries are shaping the cultural and creative sector. It will explore the challenges and opportunities presented by these advances and deepen the debate on policy, practitioner and public engagement with these issues.

The 2023 Summer Academy will include webinars, interactive digital sessions with key actors (online) and a complementary (optional) study visit to Trentino, Italy (on-site), that is also open to 2020-22 Summer Academy alumni who only participated online. The Academy will allow participants to consider real-life situations and to engage with practical challenges faced by their organisations and institutions.

Participants

The Summer Academy targets policy makers and practitioners active in the promotion of and support to creative cultural sectors. Participants may be freelancers or currently work in public institutions (national, regional, provincial or local governments, development agencies, research centres, international organisations) or private companies and organisations (foundations, co-operatives, NGOs, grassroots community organisations, non-profit entities, etc.) or active in the field of CCS development.

Application process

To apply, fill in the online application form by 2 July 2023 at 23.59 CEST.

Applicants must provide:

  • Personal and professional information.
  • Motivations for participating in the Summer Academy.
  • A case study (project, programme or initiative, which is currently being implemented or has concluded within the last 5 years and is directly related to the candidate’s professional experience).

The number of participants for the Summer Academy online is limited to 24. The selection process will be finalised by mid-July.

The on-site part of the Summer Academy will only be held if a minimum number of confirmations are reached.

Fee, logistics and costs

There is no participation fee for the Summer Academy online. Selected candidates will receive all material supporting the course in digital format, instruction on the use of the online platform and technical assistance on how to best organise their participation.

A contribution for participation of 100 EUR is foreseen for the Summer Academy on-site. The organisers will cover transport and lunches during the Summer Academy on-site, whereas travel to Trento and accommodation costs will be borne by selected participants.

Contact

OECD Trento Centre: cfetrento@oecd.org
Trentino School of Management (Tsm): step@tsm.tn.it

Partners

Summer School Agenda