Be it through material pieces, design or music, art as a means of expression is essential for our well-being and societies, bridging differences and bringing us together through common emotions. By making culture accessible from anywhere and by anyone, innovation in technology continues to democratise art, reaching out beyond the traditional museum- and concertgoers to forever revolutionise artists’ approach to accessibility.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated our transition to a society that makes better use of its digital tools. The digital transition opened up a new toolbox of media for artists to explore and experiment with. It also created a precious resource for cultural researchers and curators, increasing the knowledge value that art can bring. The European Young Leaders working Group on Arts and Culture produced last year a report that made a strong case for the cultural and creative sectors to leverage the digital transformation.
The rapidly changing situation in Ukraine further highlighted the role that digitalisation can play in the context of conflicts, protecting the arts and giving artists a safe platform to continue creating and reaching (new) audiences. This #CriticalThinking Live conversation will explore the necessary rebirth of the arts and culture sector, carried on the wings of technological innovation and AI and discuss the working group’s recommendation to offer opportunities for greater creativity and experimentation, access to and consumption of art, as well as to find ways to better protect the rights of authors and artists going online.
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PHOTO CREDIT: Google Arts & Culture Les manuscrits de Tombouctou
Questions include:
Member of the Cabinet of European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel
Lauriane Bertrand is a Policy Officer at the European Commission, working for the Creative Europe MEDIA programme, which supports the film and audiovisual industries. She has been entrusted with the issues of sustainability and greening in the context of the MEDIA programme, in addition to her responsibilities within the programme’s business cluster. Throughout her career at the European Commission, Bertrand has also served in the Cabinet of Commissioner Gabriel and in the Directorate-General for Communication.
Programme Manager at Google Arts & Culture
Pierre Caessa is a Program Manager at the Google Arts & Culture Lab, a place where tech and creative communities come together to share ideas and discover new ways to experience art and culture. Having been in his current role since the Lab opened in Paris in 2013, his projects focus on increasing accessibility to the world of arts and culture by leveraging technology to offer online art experiences and virtual tours of cultural heritage sites. Previously, Caessa has worked at the Cité de la Musique and Universal Music France’s U think! consulting agency.
Vice-President of the European Parliament
As Vice-President of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili is the Chair of the Working Group on ICT Innovation Strategy and responsible for European strategy and policy analysis systems, information and telecoms, the Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA), and corporate social responsibility. She is a Member of the Committees on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and Budgets (BUDG). Kaili has worked extensively on promoting innovation as a driving force of the establishment of the European Digital Single Market. She has also been the draftsperson of multiple pieces of legislation in the fields of blockchain technology, online platforms, big data, fintech, AI and cybersecurity.
Cultural Strategist, Museum Director and 2018 European Young Leader (EYL40)
Beatrice is an Italian cultural strategist with over 15 years of experience developing urban and social impact programmes. Currently, she is the Director of MUDAC, Museum of Contemporary Design and Applied Arts in Lausanne. She is an advocate of practical creativity for educational empowerment in sustainable futures. Prior to her current role, Beatrice co-founded B/Side Design, an urban and social impact organisation, which worked on the establishment of The Global School, the first independent design and multidisciplinary research institute in China. She has previously served as the creative director for Beijing Design Week, China’s largest and internationally renowned design and architecture event, and worked on the urban regeneration plan of Beijing’s Baitasi historic district. She is also a member of the advisory board for Design Trust in Hong Kong.
Past event In person
Past event In person
Past event IN PERSON & LIVESTREAMED
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