DIGITAL IST KULTUR CULTURE IS DIGITAL – DIGITAL IS CULTURE

IMPULSE
DIGITAL INNOVATIONS: A NEW CHALLENGE FOR THE CULTURAL AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
GARRELT DUIN
(Minister for Economic Affairs, Energy and Industry of the State
of North Rhine-Westphalia)
phenomenon that must be overcome, or as an enemy that has to be faced, but as a reality that we can shape ourselves.
We learned this from the previous discussions, but we have already heard it elsewhere as well: you do not have to just
accept the digital transformation as such, since you can have an impact on it yourself. If you wish to make use of it, you
have to take a holistic and creative approach and understand the digital rules of the game. I speak for myself: A lot of
what has been presented here I have just heard for the first time. But above all you have to know the limits.
T
ogether with Prof Dieter Gorny, we engaged in extensive discussions last week at the ‘Digital
change in creative industries, trade and mobility’ conference of the Federal Ministry
for Economic Affairs and Energy – held in Berlin, naturally. And since it is only natural to discuss
questions regarding the Cultural and Creative Industries in Berlin, it should be equally
natural to discuss such matters here in the Ruhr region as well. And that is why I, too, would
like to extend a warm welcome to you here in Essen.
As we have just heard in the previous panel, said discussions include the broadband expansion
in quarters such as Duisburg-Marxloh, for instance, or in the northern Ruhr area in
general. I believe that ecce can help draw attention to the fact that there is a great deal of
potential for the digital future in the Ruhr area, and above all, that there is also potential for
the creative industries. At least ecce attracted my attention and also that of local politicians.
Together, we are now trying to tap this potential in different places. So again, thank you for
coming to this event.
The fact that the Cultural and Creative Industries act as an excellent interface for this new
development is not surprising. With their flexible structures, they are well suited for experimental
explorations and for the development of innovative solutions.
We have our entire library on an eBook reader at hand at all times. We watch films on the
go much more frequently. The question always comes down to: how can we make cultural
content part of our everyday life faster and more directly – thanks to digitalisation? This
brings me to my first conclusion: cultural content has never been as readily available to
so many people as it is today. That is the good news, especially for a state like North Rhine-Westphalia,
where so many cultural goods are being produced or sold. Be it music, games,
film, television, design, or architecture: in all these sectors, North Rhine-Westphalia
is home to world-leading companies and events.
Before we proceed with the award ceremony, I would like to ask a few questions and comment
on some aspects, which I consider important in this regard. The Forum d’Avignon Ruhr 2015
has a motto: “Culture is Digital – Digital is Culture”. And this motto fits perfectly. Many
people ask me how the digital transformation should be dealt with at the political level. First
of all, I feel that it is a question of attitude; to understand the digital transformation not as a
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