1999 - Working Document

II - Actors in Culture

Importance of the new agents in culture

During recent decades, the number of non-governmental institutions and individuals promoting cultural development in our nations has multiplied considerably, in the form of foundations, trusts or trusteeships, and other kinds of civil associations. In some countries this phenomenon is the continuation of a large tradition, while in others it is something relatively recent; this can be explained by the different historical, social, economic, political and cultural traditions existing in each case.

The presence of these new actors is the result of an ever greater collective awareness of the importance of culture both in itself and for other important aspects of human existence; of the value of conserving and extending its wealth, and reflects the commitment in practice to these convictions. It also reflects the need to share responsibilities and work together in view of growing cultural challenges which the public institutions are powerless to face alone.

This process is of great significance. Not only does it bring greater efforts and resources to a field in which human and economic investment will never be sufficient; the diversification of actors also implies a diversification of points of view that influence the taking of decisions, the carrying out of projects, and the evaluation of results. In the framework of each country's educational and cultural legislation, conceptions are expressed regarding the national culture and cultural heritage, priorities, ways of working, and a more widespread and less monolithic enjoyment of the benefits.

This is fundamental for genuine cultural development, that now more than ever, in the era of globalization and strengthening of democratic life, is wedded to a commitment to cultural plurality -on the conservation of which national cultures themselves depend- and to the democratizing of access to culture and its benefits.

Back to Top

This is fundamental for genuine cultural development, that now more than ever, in the era of globalization and strengthening of democratic life, is wedded to a commitment to cultural plurality -on the conservation of which national cultures themselves depend- and to the democratizing of access to culture and its benefits.

Back to Top

Role of governments

Within this panorama, the role of governments in relation to the new cultural actors may involve three principal aspects: regulation; encouraging the appearance of new agents; and collaboration.

The first of these is of particular importance, since the cultural richness and diversity of each nation, if left to its fate, runs the risk of being worn away by the current of economic, cultural, political and social processes, both on the national and international levels. Governments have the major responsibility for guaranteeing that national cultures do not end up in the hands of alien forces, such as the markets, and for maintaining among themselves a dialogue that allows cultural enrichment, always with full respect for the liberties of creation and expression.

In order to stimulate the appearance of new cultural actors, it is necessary for governments to encourage the growing interest of society in cultural development, and to ensure, at the same time, favorable conditions for the work of those actors. The following points may offer some lines of advance in this direction:

• full response to the cultural concerns of individuals and local communities;
• encouragement of the participation of civil society in the formulation of cultural policies, in order to guarantee representativeness and viability;
• design of cultural policies open to the participation of new actors;
• calling for the creation of tax incentives to companies and civil organizations that promote culture;
• creation of permanent communication channels between these and the public institutions;
• bringing about a closer relation between cultural activity and other spheres, such as tourism and the natural heritage;
• promoting meetings at national and international levels for the exchange of experiences and the establishments of links between the new cultural actors, and between the latter and public institutions.

It is of vital importance also that the participation of new actors should involve the whole range of fields of cultural action, including the preservation of the heritage, the dissemination of cultural manifestations and the creation of adequate conditions for contemporary cultural expression, and should take in different sectors of the population, avoiding excessive concentration of efforts in particular spheres to the neglect of others.

Ministers and others involved in decision making over cultural policies should give particular attention to the linking of the new cultural actors with the audiovisual media and new technologies, on account of the ever more strategic role these have, and will have in the future, in our societies and, consequently, of the enormous potential they offer for efforts in favor of culture.

Subjects for discussion

• If efforts in favor of culture have diversified and intensified with the appearance of new cultural actors, the work of the latter is concentrated in particular fields, such as the preservation of the heritage and the dissemination of the arts. How can we promote a greater participation of these actors in other fields of equal importance, but which have received less attention, such as the preservation of the intangible heritage (languages, the culinary arts, oral traditions, festivities, etc.)?
• In view of the increasing importance of the new cultural actors, what are the principal challenges facing society and the governments of each country regarding the aim of helping these actors to be progressively better organized in their efforts, thus achieving greater and broader benefit for the development of national cultures? (Creation of networks of non-governmental cultural agents? Proposal of common objectives? Joint evaluation of results by the agents themselves etc.?)
• What is the extent of collaboration between non profit-making cultural institutions, national and international cultural industries and the governments of each nation in efforts committed to cultural diversity and development?

Back to Top