CULTURAL POLICY INSTRUMENTS RELATED TO CREATIVITY
Creativity is considered to be one of the crucial values of the contemporary world, if not the most important one. Notions such as "creative industries", "creative cities", and "creative class" are omnipresent in today's vocabulary. In the article "The self-culturalisation of the city: On the transformation of modern urbanity in the 'creative city' ", Andreas Reckwitz points out that, when this term was first applied to people, in the period of Romanticism, it was reserved for artists and the aesthetic sphere. Artists, as opposed to "ordinary people", were presented as extraordinary, heroic figures characterised by creativity, innovation and imagination. According to Reckwitz, trends in the modern world have led to "routinisation and normalisation of creativity." Creativity is seen today as an ability potentially present in all people and desirable in all fields (and not only in culture and art). Moreover, creativity is seen as a normative imperative, while non-creativity is treated as a form of pathology.
Creativity is considered important today as it drives innovation and contributes to economic growth and job opportunities. It helps individuals adapt to constant changes such as technological advancements, globalisation, and societal norm shifts. Creativity is essential for pushing the limits of technology, creating user-friendly products, and envisioning applications that can enhance people's lives. Moreover, in a world that is increasingly interconnected, effective communication and collaboration are crucial. Creativity promotes collaboration among people with diverse backgrounds, resulting in innovative and comprehensive outcomes.
Cultural policy can use a range of instruments to support creativity:
First, by including creative education in school curricula and extracurricular activities, cultural policy can help cultivate young talents and promote a culture of creativity from a young age.
The second important instrument is copyright and intellectual property protection, which creates a safe space for artists and creators to freely share their original works without fearing being taken advantage of.
An essential instrument in cultural policy is offering financial assistance to artists, cultural institutions, and creative endeavours through grants, subsidies, and funding initiatives. It helps ease monetary burdens and allows artists and creative professionals to concentrate on their work and innovative projects.
Investing in resources and training for cultural entrepreneurship can be a game-changer for artists. It allows them to turn their creativity into sustainable careers, giving them the tools and knowledge they need to succeed in the industry. This approach benefits individual artists and contributes to the growth and sustainability of the cultural sector as a whole.
Collaborative projects and interdisciplinary work can foster the exchange of ideas and inspire new artistic expressions. It is possible to promote innovation in the arts through the encouragement of such collaborative efforts, the facilitation of cross-pollination of ideas, as well as the promotion of innovative artistic expressions by means of cultural policy.
Support in cultural policy for integrating arts and technology allows artists to explore new media and innovative, creative expression methods.
Last but not least, supporting digital platforms and virtual spaces for artistic exhibitions, performances, and collaborations will enable creative content to be accessible to a broader audience. (PC, ITK)