Under the theme Observe, Understand, the Basque Observatory of Culture will bring together for two days at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao policymakers, professionals and experts from the cultural sector to share experiences and reflect on the strategic role of cultural observatories in responding to the changes affecting today’s cultural ecosystem.
The forum has been conceived as an international platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange and cooperation. Its programme will be structured around three main themes: cultural monitoring in a global context; the impact of artificial intelligence and new analytical paradigms; and reflection on the public value of culture and cultural rights.
New challenges for cultural monitoring
The first theme will address cultural monitoring models, their governance and the shared challenges faced by institutions across different territories. The aim will be to share experiences and best practices that can improve the production and transfer of applied knowledge in the cultural field.
The forum will also examine the changes brought about by artificial intelligence and new tools for collecting and processing data. The sessions will explore both their potential and their ethical and methodological implications for research, evaluation and decision-making.
The third theme will focus on the public value of culture and cultural rights. Participants will consider how to measure culture’s contribution to society, strengthen its legitimacy and anticipate the scenarios that will shape the future of cultural policy.
Further details about the programme, speakers and registration will be announced shortly.
An international meeting point
The International Forum of Cultural Observatories is aimed at cultural-sector professionals, public administrators, researchers and academics, cultural managers, creators, businesses, organisations and other stakeholders interested in analysing and developing the cultural ecosystem.
In addition to providing access to strategic knowledge, the event will offer participants the opportunity to learn about international experiences, discuss the sector’s main challenges and establish new connections among professionals and institutions.
The Basque Observatory of Culture turns 20
The forum marks the 20th anniversary of the Basque Observatory of Culture, an organisation established by the Basque Government whose mission is to transform cultural information into knowledge, study the cultural landscape of the Basque Country and analyse its general, sectoral and territorial dimensions.
Over the past two decades, the Observatory has become a leading centre for the production of strategic knowledge, contributing to the development of cultural policies and the strengthening of the sector through rigorous analysis and the dissemination of useful information.