Special session: Post-Covid recovery of the Cultural and Creative Industries in the Adriatic-Ionian Region

The panel dedicated to post-Covid recovery of the Cultural and Creative Industries in the Adriatic-Ionian Region encompassed attitudes from regional experts in different field areas. The experts exchanged their views and experiences in dealing with the Covid-19 crisis, while proposing measures, solutions and initiatives to be undertaken to support the recovery of the cultural and creative sectors. Those have been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as by different measures undertaken in response to it.

The panelists agreed that the pandemic resulted in the hyper-production of the digitized cultural content, but also that digital experiences cannot replace live cultural events and the social dimension of culture.  The focus should be on public good, not only on profit generation. They underlined the importance of strategic approach, participatory governance in culture and long-term financing of the cultural sector, while at the same time the necessity of institutional and budgetary changes. The cultural and creative sector need radical healing instead of going back to the “old normal”.

Different experiences led to the same conclusion: The pandemic has shown that Culture is the highest human need!