Bilbao, Vitoria-Gasteiz, and Donostia-San Sebastián
Language:
English
On the April 15, 16 and 17 2024, the Basque Country is set to host the Creativity World Forum (CWF24), in Bilbao, Vitoria-Gasteiz, and Donostia-San Sebastián?the three vibrant Basque capital cities.
This awaited gathering, the flagship event of the DC Network, invites global innovators to engage in discussions about creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Main objectives of CWF24
Update the new trends in governance and innovationin the CCIs
Create local and international collaboration environments based on sharing value-added projects
Energize the DC Network itself based on a CWF model that facilitates the identification and support of projects with high potential for collaboration at an international level. To achieve this change in model, the participation of the Cultural and Creative Districts of the DC Network is essential.?
Location and format
The CWF24 is planned for April 15, 16 and 17 2024. (Monday to Wednesday), taking place in the 3 capitals of the Basque Country. During the first day there will be the possibility to attend both in person or online, and the second day only in person. The first day the congress is in Bilbao city, with the welcome and the official opening in addition to various talks and the presentation of the 4 thematic areas and the DC Living Lab of CWF24. In the afternoon, attendees will be able to choose from several itineraries of the CCIs that they can visit in Bilbao. The following day, the thematic areas are the protagonists and those interested in participating in them will travel to the Basque city chosen (Bilbao, Donostia-San Sebastián or Vitoria-Gasteiz, within 1-hour of travelling distance). There, the idea is to work in groups and generate synergies, specially between the challenges and the highlighted projects. Last day, a common session is occurring, with the final presentation and contrast of the working results by thematic areas, the potential collaborations and closing of the conference. The idea is to go home with ideas and opportunities for collaboration, in order to continue growing the CCIs in an innovative and sustainable way.
Thematic areas
In order to achieve the CWF24 objectives, four Thematic Areas (TA, hereinafter) have been selected to work on.
Each thematic area is coordinated by a relevant entity from the Basque Country, with good experience with the subject and its derivaties as well as the coordination of projects.
All thematic areas will have a relevant role in the Forum, having a particular program and activities for each of them. During the second day of the congress, each thematic area will have a specific different location or headquarter, in one of the 3 Basque capitals.
Thematic Areas
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About the Creativity World Forum
Founded in 2004, the Districts of Creativity (DC) Network unites regions around the world to share and develop practices on stimulating cross-disciplinary creativity and foster innovation in order to contribute to addressing global challenges for a better future.
Annually, one of the DC regions organizes the Creativity World Forum. It is a flagship conference and gathering of the DC-Network that brings together and inspires a myriad of people such as government leaders, entrepreneurs, creatives, or policy makers to discuss creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. It is focused on multidisciplinary collaboration but the organizing member has the privilege to chose the theme, focus and approach. Moreover, a DC LivingLab is also organized every year. It consists of an international student workshop to connect with future creative talents and they have a prominent part during the conference, as well.
Previous editions
2022: Baden-Württemberg.
2019: Brabant, The Netherlands
2018: Flanders, Belgium
2017: Aarhus, Denmark
2016: Bangalore, India
2015: Oklahoma, EE. UU.
2013: Tampere, Finland
2012: Río de Janeiro, Brazil
During the preparation planning phase for the Creativity World Forum 2024 in the Basque Country, we contemplated the optimal approach to create a specific work context that would foster the initiation of open collaboration among participants. This was articulated nearly a year ago in the general report titled 'The Journey':
"Innovation in the CCIs not only produces favourable individual or private revenues, but also important positive externalities, especially of social and cultural nature. More importantly, they play a key role in moving towards more inclusive and sustainable societies. This fact configures a unique character of innovation value in CCIs. Therefore, the implementation of better governance models with a more integrated approach on policies and innovation is needed to leverage the untapped potential of CCIs.
In this CWF24 we propose a journey through the Thematic Areas and Global Challenges at a global level, through specific experiences that we want to contrast with your own experiences, trying to create possibilities for collaboration in the near future. We hope that the CWF24 will be an enriching experience to better understand these changes and propose new challenges for the future".
Below, we present the final conclusions we reached after CWF2024, which generously align with the forecasts we made a year ago. Detailed reports on each thematic area, the DC Living Labs, each global challenge, and other CWF24 sessions are available in this website, along with their corresponding graphic materials. The audiovisual materials are also accessible on the CCIs in the Basque Country YouTube channel.
Over the three days of the forum 500 people were involved in the different activities, from 42 countries, and had the opportunity to listen to over 50 speakers and visit 12 cultural and creative institutions. The participatory discussion sessions on global challenges have been spaces for open dialogue, in which more than 210 participants have shared their own experiences and perspectives, enriching our collective understanding. And over 250 interactions were enabled at the speed meeting sessions. The forum was livestreamed during the first and the third day giving the opportunity to participants who could not attend in-person to follow the event in real time with simultaneous translation in three languages, English, Basque and Spanish.
For the active participation and networking organized sessions, as a reflection, we acknowledge that although prior preparation is crucial for facilitating these two different session setups, (speed meeting and open networking) it is equally important to maintain flexibility. Having a plan is essential, but scheduling open slots and creating comfortable, positive spaces where discussions can adjust to participant interests or emerging themes is key. Balancing necessary structure with the flexibility to explore ideas as they arise can significantly enhance the effectiveness and enjoyment of these kind of sessions.
In the cultural and creative industries, governance models must evolve to balance profit seeking or revenues generation with the imperative to generate social value, impacting areas such as mental health, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability. This needs a governance framework that includes diverse stakeholders, from artists to environmental experts, to ensure a holistic view in decision-making.
The triple transition (green, social, digital) represents a unique opportunity of innovation WITHIN and WITH the CCIs due to three reasons:
The first one is that there is a huge knowledge (also processes and methods) within the sector which gives the sector a pioneer role.
The second one is that the sector itself is transforming. Young generations are going to face new business models and change them. These business models will incorporate innovation into their DNA and will bring their current potential to the entire systematic incorporation of innovation in companies.
The third one is that CCIs has the ability and competence to transform other sectors (cross-fertilization) and parts of society, but here there is a huge need for a new innovation support system from the public administration.
The biggest challenge we have as a sector is that we need to learn how to sell our story as a business better. For this to happen the sector needs to enhance their skills in business, they need to get support in translating their narratives towards the financial and policy level and they need to join forces as ONE big sector. This will create more trust and will make the CCIs a higher priority for investors and policymakers.
Self-awareness in individual terms but also as an ecosystem are key to foster a learner-centred approach to our teaching and learning models including skills related to hard and technical competencies and soft capacities demanded and needed by the CCIs sectors to take our Industries to the next level. Understanding education as the emergence of new skills for future jobs is essential.
The process of DC Living Lab, weaving together talent from various DC Network regions, can mirror the possibilities of the creative and cultural industries regarding how work and knowledge can be created and taken forward. Multiple disciplines and cultures were brought together in a collaborative setting to face the challenges of today, and it was precisely the combination of skills and diversity of profiles that brought value to the outcomes. This gives food for thought on how important this diversity and collaboration is for the industry, which has been seen strongly in the heart of the conference this time. The key lines of the challenges bring together current and relevant themes such as sustainability, new technologies and collaborative structures. The example of this year's teams may inspire new projects forward locally and internationally. We see DC Living Lab continuing its valuable mission to keep bringing districts and international talent together, to imagine and to create the futures we seek. Not in a silo but as a vertebral line, hand in hand with the existing vital stakeholders and experienced professionals of the industry.
Inspirational Talk 1: The crossroads of climate action, innovation, and creativity.
Andoni Hidalgo from Climate KIC provided and inspirational speech entitled "The crossroads of climate action, innovation, and creativity". The point of departure was the recognition that global climate emergency faces a profound challenge in our ability to envision solutions. The belief that providing enough evidence -and advocacy- would spur action has proven insufficient, as carbon emissions persistently climb. We require fresh, uplifting stories ? visions of a desirable future ? to ignite proactive responses to climate change. It's not a matter of lacking knowledge but rather a shortfall in imaginative thinking that hampers our ability to act. Hence, there is a very clear need for the Cultural and Creative sector to step in and contribute to transform this reality.
Andoni proposed a 4-stream sets of actions that could be explored: use identity as a very powerful trigger to foster change (linking climate action to national, regional, local identities); foster imaginative advocacy to Institutions (taking into account that ambitious policies are an essential part of the puzzle); use creative ways to provoke changes in daily habits and routines, and promote radical collaboration through the multiplication of unsuspected alliances. All this under two premises: firstly, we should not just "point the finger at others" but fundamentally start by asking what we can do as a sector and constantly question ourselves; and secondly, we should perseverate, not be afraid to fail, promote constant feedback loops and continuous learning processes.
Inspirational Talk 2: Creativity and innovation beyond sectors ? A conversation between creatives.
Aranzazu Calleja and Jon Maya shared fundamental aspects of their creative processes in the fields of dance and music. Some of the most notable ideas included: the role of creators in the world beyond the entertainment sphere; the relationship between gender and various disciplines; creative social responsibility and coherence; the confusion surrounding one's identities and localisms; difference as a source of creativity; and the adaptability and resilience of creators. Finally, they emphasized the need for active listening and highlighted the magic of silence.
Global Challenge 1: New narratives on Climate change from CCIs ? visioning on a future worth having.
Andoni Hidalgo, Aleksandra Goldys, Maria Loloni. In this global challenge, the participants were divided into small roundtables where they discussed in a structured dialogue the current narratives guiding three routinary elements of our daily lives with a high impact on Climate (what we eat, how we move, how we dress). Following a role play dynamic, participants analysed the patterns, structures and mental models underlying behind these narratives, and proposed ways in which CCIs could help to transform them into new, positive stories.
On the "What we eat" area, participants underlined the very rooted consumption habits where economic considerations -both from business and consumers- prevail over other kind of concerns -such as the food habits? impact on climate. To change this, CCIs can play a key role by shifting the paradigm towards conscious consumerism and citizen engagement.
On the "How we move" area, participants stressed the need for a shift from a culture based on "the need to move" ? under which the paradigm of "fear of missing out" is very present- to one based on "the value of local". In addition, they also stressed the potential role of culture and creativity for countering individualism and promoting collective means of transport.
On the "How we dress", CCI?s role on "rethinking design" was underlined. This industry has an enormous potential on raising awareness among citizens that remains currently unexplored. Further to the environmental impacts (CO2 emissions, enormous use of water), other considerations such us the respect of human rights were also mentioned.
Global Challenge 2: New business models for CCIs: how do we incorporate creativity and innovation?
Joseph Hurtado. The cultural and creative industries and the traditional industries have faced challenges that go beyond the lack of resources, often funding and the unwavering need to up skill as we gravitate towards as a society that faces technological disruptions and climate change urgency.
Hence, as efforts continue to tackle these challenges, the term 'innovation' frequently arises in the working environment. Indeed, innovation is recognized as a driving force for progress, making it essential for industries not to overlook this fact. Consequently, it can be stated that the CCI?s and the traditional industries have an interest to collaborate for:
The exchange of knowledge to tackle common and pressing issues.
Find collaboration pathways for an appropriate transition in which innovation and culture come together to develop solutions with a human centred approach.
The need of going back to basics, to the need of being connected to our nature humanity that is about connection.
As industries cannot overlook in innovation, let?s do not forget that Innovation is about people and ideas, ideas and people only.
CCIs and the digital transition: towards more competitive cultural and creative industries. Jorge García Valbuena & Sonia Bilbao. In this last session During this session we delved into the current state of the digital transition within the CCIs sectors. We discussed how to get the most out of technologies such as generative artificial intelligence or Natural Language processing, analytical technologies and the use of data or advanced visualisations through extended reality.
Many opportunities were identified for the sector, but also major challenges in this digital transition, ranging from the need for capacity building and training in the sector, to the need for collaboration between actors in the sector itself, to the financial investment required to address the digital transition. While tools and instruments are available today, one of the main conclusions is the definite need for a better long-term strategy regarding strategic investment in the sector. This strategy should facilitate access to resources, including knowledge and equipment.
The other big hot topic of discussion was the impact of generative AI on the production of cultural and creative content. Embracing technology and welcoming the regulatory initiatives being implemented to ensure the protection, property rights, and ownership of content used for generating derivative works is essential. However, the evolution of these regulatory frameworks needs to be closely monitored to assess how they address aspects related to the content used for training AI models.
From the Basque Country we celebrated the role of Euskadi as an open cultural and creative ecosystem. This region has proven itself a dynamic intersection where tradition meets innovation, fostering a culture of creativity that connects deeply with the global community. Euskadi?s commitment to being an open and internationally connected hub enriches our gatherings, providing a platform where local dynamism and global perspectives merge seamlessly. This nurtures the birth of innovative ideas and collaborative projects across borders. As this chapter of our journey ends, remember, it is not a finale but a gateway to new paths unfolding, offering exciting opportunities for continued exploration and cooperation. Eskerrik asko.
