What is it about?
The first topic of Voices of Culture 2021 – 2023 will engage with experts on the topic of understanding digital audiences, with a special focus on performing arts (i.e., theatre, dance, live music), and cultural heritage (i.e., museums, galleries, historic buildings, heritage sites, intangible heritage events and activities). In light of COVID-19, discussions should focus particularly on lessons learned from lockdown-induced practices to understand existing digital audiences and engage new ones, as well as to collect and manage digital audience data.
The target output is the development of voluntary guidelines for collecting and managing data on existing and new digital audiences. These guidelines could serve as a source of inspiration for cultural organisations and help them adapt to the ever changing digital environment.
Why is it important?
With the advent of digital technology, developing digital audiences has become a new challenge for the cultural and creative sectors (CCS). More complex than just increasing the number of cyber-attendees, this process needs to be accompanied by a long-term
meaningful digital strategy, supported by clearly defined objectives, audience data, and performance indicators. In line with the 2019-2022 Council Work Plan for Culture, digital technologies therefore represent a major asset for innovative methods of participation and user-centered services
How will we do it?
Successful applicants will be invited to a Brainstorming Meeting at Goethe-Institut Rotterdam on the 13.12.2021 – 15.12.2021 and to a Dialogue Meeting at Goethe-Institut Brussels on the 08.03.2022 to share their input on several areas of discussion:
Voices of Culture participants will write a Brainstorming Report after the Brainstorming Meeting. In this report, the results of the discussion between participants at the Brainstorming Meeting will be expressed. This report will then be presented by participants to the European Commission at the Dialogue Meeting. For examples of previous reports, please consult the topic section of our website.
Please be aware that Voices of Culture is a platform for dialogue between the cultural sector and the European Commission provided by the European Commission. The Voices of Culture team only facilitates this process and is not responsible for writing the Brainstorming Report. This responsibility lies with participants. The writing of the Brainstorming Report cannot be financially remunerated.
A digital pre-meeting will take place on the 17.11.2021.
The Brainstorming meeting for the topic will take place at Goethe-Institut Rotterdam on the 13.12.2021 – 15.12.2021
The Dialogue meeting for this topic will take place on the Goethe-Institut Brussels on the 26.04.2022.
Please note that it is the responsibility of participants to conform with travel regulations when travelling to the Netherlands and Belgium.
Who can participate?
The call is open to representatives of the cultural and creative sectors (professional organisations, cultural institutions, non-governmental organisations, European networks, foundations, private organisations, etc.) with relevant expertise on the topic (Re)-Engaging Digital Audiences In The Cultural Sectors – Improving Audience Data who would like to contribute to discussions with the European Commission. Organisations applying must be from one of the 27 EU Member States.
The amount of participating organizations is limited to 35. Participating organizations must be based in the European Union.
How to apply?
IMPORTANT: Please read this framework paper by Anne-Sophie Radermecker before filling in the application. This framework paper will form the basis of the discussion.
Application deadline: 24th of October 2021
Announcement of results: 1st of November 2021