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

For a more detailed overview of the topic, please read the framework paper by our topic expert Anne-Sophie Radermecker.

How did we do it?

Successful applicants were 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:

• COVID-19 recovery and impact on cultural consumption by digital means
• EU role in supporting the development of digital audiences
• Aspects of data collection and management with regard to 1) rebuilding existing audiences via digital means, and 2) reaching new digital audiences,with a focus on digitally deprived people

Voices of Culture participants wrote a Brainstorming Report after the Brainstorming Meeting. In this report, the results of the discussion between participants at the Brainstorming Meeting were expressed. This report was then presented by participants to the European Commission at the Dialogue Meeting.

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.

When did it happen?

A digital pre-meeting took place on the 17.11.2021.

The Brainstorming meeting for the topic took place digitally on from the 13.12.2021 – 15.12.2021

The Dialogue meeting for this topic took place at Goethe-Institut Brussels on the 26.04.2022.

Who participated?

The call was 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.

The following 35 organizations were chosen to participate in the structured dialogue:

• All Digital
• AP Hogeschool
• ARC Research & Consultancy
• Arts Council Malta
• Asociación Socio-Cultural La Guajira
• Association Kulturanova
• Bibliothèque nationale de France
• CENTRALE for contemporary art
• Cluj Cultural Centre
• Creators of Cosmos SMPC
• Culture Action Europe
• DEN
• DINAMO10
• Erasmus University Rotterdam
• Europa Nostra
• European Choral Association
• European Music Council
• European Theatre Convention
• European Union Youth Orchestra
• Faki Festival
• Hiša Podlog
• Intercultura Consult
• International Association of Music Information Centers
• Kultura Nova Foundation
• Musée du Louvre
• Music Estonia
• Network of European Museum Organisations
• Next Page Foundation
• PostScriptum
• Pro Progressione
• University of Oviedo
• University of Palermo – Department of Culture and Society
• Web2Learn
• Western Development Commission Ireland
• Zemuju Sanciu bendruomene (Faro Convention Network)

How to apply?

The call for applications is now closed.

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