Ποιειν Και Πραττειν - create and do

EU Cultural Policy in 2011

Ever since Adorno's criticism of the cultural industries, it is surprising that so little of that has been taken up by both advocates and lobbyists of the so-called cultural industries or creative economy.

They all seem to miss that one crucial point Michael D. Higgins refers to when he says that culture is wider, deeper and greater in scope than whatever the term 'economy" can signify.

An enormous difference is made by the fact that culture does not signify so much but rather dignifies human activities, expressions and experiences made. The latter can be imagined when people listen to a poem, feel its wisdom, and realize in a single moment something unique and akin to any human being conscious of what feeds the stream of humanity.

Michael D. Higgins would say, every poet knows when the poem is made and the human voice resounds through the lines. But these are quite other standpoints of reflections compared to what economists, entrepreneurs and business managers would refer to when seeking the greatest possible investment opportunities in order to make maximum profit - the sole rationale according to which they know to structure their actions. Yet someone like Michael D. Higgins is capable of recognizing the difference between a productive economy doing still well in Ireland 2011 even though the state reels due to a huge deficit which was brought about partly by irresponsible bankers and financial managers. But can those working in the economy give recognition to poetry? to a well made poem?

Surely it is of interest that Brendan Kennelly advised the Article 10 ERDF project CIED (Cultural Innovation and Economic Development) to adopt as one of its five objectives: "learn to use, but not abuse culture".

There was as well the great spirit of Melina Mercouri! She attempted among many things to introduce art education into schools. That has been badly missing in the Greek education. Whether any progress can be made during the deficit crisis of 2009-2010-2011 and onward, that remains to be seen. Usually culture is the first to feel the cut back in the budget.

A new debate is needed to advance the cultural agenda while posing in depth crucial policy questions:

- the roles of Cultural Contact Points representing the official EU policy within respective national frameworks

- the recommendations of the crucial study by Rod Fisher and others called "In from the Margins" have still to be followed up

- the Cultural Forum of 2011 will focus on digitalisation although EU cultural policy has failed to acknowledge such studies as the one by Jesse Marsh in 2000-2 about "cultural diversity in the digital age"

- Michael D. Higgins would also emphasize the need of EU Cultural Policy to further forms of participation

- citizens need to gain through various forms of learning and practical experiences in digital literacy, but this literacy should allow them equally to read the signs of nature as much of the times they are living in and for which culture can give them an understanding thereof.

Despite President Barrosso stating repeatedly how important culture is for the economy due to its operational function being easily linked to furthering creativity and innovation, there is not merely the overt danger of over commercialisation made out in 1996 when designing the ERDF Article 10 funding program, but now much more the risk of functionalising merely culture for economic purposes. That then does remind of the advice Brendan Kennelly gave, namely 'learn how to use, but do not abuse culture'!

HF 21.9.2011

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