Research Profile
The culture sector has not been immune to the unprecedented challenges facing European societies since the late 1980's. Shifting geopolitical boundaries, accelerated globalisation, international trade and the large scale introduction of new information and communication technologies have contributed to a diversified European cultural space of people, ideas and innovations. New opportunities and needs have arisen. They have also been accompanied by new risks and fears. Calls have been made to respond to these developments through increased cultural co-operation among institutions, industries and individuals. Improvements in the governance and management structures for culture and artistic creativity in Europe are also being sought. Responsibility for developing modern strategies and visions needs to be shared among public, private and non-profit actors. Intensified intercultural dialogue and trans-national cooperation between these actors in different European societies is required in order to provide a solid basis for sustainable cultural development.
The comparative research programme of the ERICarts Institute was designed in this context.
Leading centres of excellence and professionals from around Europe which specialise in cultural research, work together to realise large scale transnational research projects in the following fields of study:
- Comparing cultural policies and systems of governance/management
- Qualifications and changing working practises of arts and media professionals
- Economic aspects of culture
- Cultural dimensions of everyday life
- Cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue, and the cultural dimensions of social cohesion
- European cultural and scientific co-operation
The result is a decentralised structure of professionals undertaking both quantitative and qualitative comparative cultural research projects in partnership.
