This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
PRESS RELEASE May 6, 2011
Pan-European project to investigate creative interventions in business A unique new two-year project was launched today to examine how innovation and creativity can be stimulated in European businesses through the intervention of artists and creatives. Led by the Dutch foundation Cultuur-Ondernemen (Culture and Entrepreneurship), Training Artists for Innovation (TAFI) will analyse the needs of business for artists’ skills and investigate the competences needed by artists in order to intervene as businesses require. Qualification and skills framework TAFI will review the existing and developing models for training artists and creatives to work in business contexts and the need for intermediary platforms. The results of the analyses performed in the first part of the project will be used to develop a qualification and skills framework for artists working in business. A handbook, based on input from artists, intermediaries and businesses, will describe this framework and several successful training models, list a number of best practice cases illustrating creative interventions and contain cultural policy recommendations for stimulating innovation through the interventions of artists. Substantial contribution While there is considerable evidence for the need of business for the creativity that artists and creatives can deliver, there is a shortage of artists with the necessary expertise and experience. By developing a qualification & skills framework and identifying training models, TAFI will make a substantial contribution to the pool of artists and creatives skilled enough to deliver creative interventions in business effectively. This project shows how the objective of the European Agenda for Culture to promote culture as a catalyst for creativity can be translated into action by putting artists in the position of creative interveners in business. Leveraging experience and expertise The project is scheduled to run from May 2011 through to April 2013 and will leverage experience and expertise in this field from various EU countries. TAFI is being led and coordinated by the Dutch foundation Cultuur-Ondernemen in collaboration with project partners from five other European countries: Artlab and Kunstgreb APS from Denmark, Theatre Academy Helsinki (TeaK) from Finland, C2masi s.l. from Spain, Skådebanan Västra Götaland AB (TILLT) from Sweden and Berufsförderungsinstitut Oberösterreich (BFI OÖ) from Austria. KEA, the Brussels-based consultancy specialised in culture and creativity, is involved in the writing of the policy recommendations. The results will be disseminated through several Dutch and European networks, such as ELIA, IETM, Cultural Action Europe, Encatc and CEREC (Arts&Business network). A final conference in Brussels will attract several policy-making organisations to discuss the recommendations. __ About Cultuur-Ondernemen The Cultuur-Ondernemen foundation supports and guides artists, creatives and cultural organisations to fully realise their potential value: artistically, societally and financially. Cultuur-Ondernemen collects and shares knowledge of the cultural sector and brings together artists, creatives, cultural institutions, companies and social organisations. www.cultuur-ondernemen.nl Note for editors (not for publication): For further information, please contact: Joost Heinsius, Cultuur-Ondernemen, tel.: +31 20 530 5920 / +31 62 392 6441 mail: jheinsius@cultuur-ondernemen.nl