Politico-cultural conference - 8th to 9th November 2007
The main theme for the conference was the cultural economy. Indeed the prospects and risks that result from the non-profit cultural industry are discussed surprisingly little. The cause: in Germany, neo-liberal economic thinking has come to a politico-cultural concept that treats art and culture as a worthy and knowledge-broadening sphere quite aside from market business. This leads to entanglement in ideological oppositions instead of the development of a new socio-political scope of engagement. The focus of this conference will be the question of the effects of the cultural economy on politico-cultural thinking for the development of new strategies.
Facing the dynamic developments of the cultural economy, the changing behaviour of consumers and the continual financial difficulties for the public authorities, the politics of culture must look for new answers and strategies in order to guarantee its own future.
The Berlin conference asks cultural politicians and cultural economics researchers to explore this difficult terrain, to weigh up risks, to discuss ideas, and agree on strategies.
Agenda:
- Cultural economy – definitions, models, and politics of separation
- Comprehension and relationship of culture, creativity, and the economy
- Interaction between public funding for culture, socio-civic engagement, and profit-oriented free enterprise
- The relationship between the politics of culture and the economy
- The relationship between public measures and the needs of culture and the cultural economy
- The relationship between the cultural economy and politico-cultural duties
- Integrated political modes from home and abroad / best practice
- The creation of models and the transferability of the integrated politics of cultural economy
- Expectations for various socio-political strategies
- Conclusion: the cultural economy’s sphere of work from a politico-cultural perspective