And that’s a wrap for our 7th #OECD Trento Centre Summer Academy on Cultural & Creative Industries and Local Development! A key takeaway was the pivotal role of #culture in bridging divides and addressing polarization. By leveraging cultural initiatives, cities can bring diverse communities together. Culture helps break down barriers, increasing our understanding and empathy towards those we consider as "the other." Moreover, culture combats the oversimplification of reality; art is unexpected, and can be complex, challenging our perceptions and encouraging deeper thought. There is also evidence that higher rates of cultural participation correlate with increased likelihood to vote, volunteer, and donate to charities. This means that by investing in cultural infrastructure, proximity and easy access to local cultural offers cities can not only encourage cultural participation but also civic engagement. This year's Academy delved deep into pressing topics such as forging new creative alliances between cities, nature, and communities. Urbanist and regional assessor Maurizio Carta illuminated the concept of a new creative alliance between cites, nature and communities, urging us to rethink urban landscapes as spaces where diversity thrives. Dani de Torres Barderi, former Commissioner of #Barcelona, shared his expertise on cultural integration strategies that have shaped Barcelona, underscoring the role of inclusive and anti-rumor policies in fostering community cohesion. A highlight was the exploration of urban creativity with the Gabriella Gomez-Mont, former Chief Creative Officer for #MexicoCity, emphasizing how embracing creativity can transform cities into vibrant hubs of innovation and inclusivity. However, a word of caution: expecting culture to deliver all these benefits can be challenging. The cultural sector is still fragile after #COVID-19, with high shares of precarious work. The funding landscape is often overfocused on short-term projects, which do not allow for experimentation or the building of long-term collaborations needed for stronger impact. Finally, capacities within the sector need to be built to deliver all these social impacts effectively. Huge thanks to all 25 participants from 18 countries who joined us in Trento, our wonderful speakers, site visit hosts and partners. We already start thinking about the next edition! See you next year! 🔗 Learn more: bit.ly/3zEbvYz
Karen E. Maguire
1mo
Great you were able to tackle a critical issue of addressing the polarization we see in many countries when we need ways to bring us together, like culture!
Riccardo Mazzeo
1mo
👏👏👏
Periódicos Profesional
1mointegrando via cultura nos abrimos reconociendo otros modelos del mundo, enriquecemos el modelo local, generamos afinidades variadas que nos llevan a trabajar con otras sociedades confiando, entregandonos, con integridad. es como firmar cheques que nos alejen de la guerra, la conflictividad, los miedos, los rechazos. una gran idea. BUENOS AIRES tiene gran desarrollo cultural en distintos niveles y bien seria tender lazos con ustedes via nuestra cultura y avanzar en este frograma. saludos.