I was asked by Ben Payne from the Birmingham Rep, to put forward some thoughts on a significant issue that the cultural sector will face within ten years. It’s for an event he is running for the Clore Leadership Programme.
Here’s my response:
Digital media and technology are changing the way that we interact with one-another. Young people are increasingly using new and emerging tools for self-expression and sharing which for many under the age of eighteen are now commonplace.
Digital communication methods such as text, MSN and myspace are taken for granted, but the cultural sector seems to be slow on the uptake in embracing these significant changes in our culture. Within ten years we will have young arts practitioners who have lived through their formative years thinking of broadband access in the same way as we think of electricity.
To remain relevant, in ten years the cultural sector will have moved to a model of digital involvement with cultural activity.
A ‘global niche’ model will be adopted, where cultural engagement will not just be based around geographic location but around cultural memes. Niche, multi-sited festivals, events and performances combined with engaging use of digital media will springing up around the world offering cultural activity that can be experienced in both digital and physical spaces.
The question for the UK cultural sector, therefore is:
“With the new tools available to us, how can we create engaging cultural activity that can span digital and physical spaces?”