White paper on creativity - ebla center

Chapter 2On this point the recommendationsconcern the aspects of aims,organisation and function.As far as the nature of the aims areconcerned, they should lead – atnational and regional level – toprovisions for specific programmesdedicated to creativity and a greatereffort to integrate cultural andeconomic objectives in planningactivities.In operational terms, therecommendations made by the EUadministration highlight the need tochannel national and Europeanfinancial resources towards new aims –other than those connected with thestraightforward recovery or restorationof goods – much more carefully tunedto fostering artistic talents, improvingthe quality of teaching and promotingthe cultural industries. From thisspecific point of view, in the light ofthe European recommendations,special attention should be accorded tothe question of creative cities and toraising the profile of creativity inschool programmes.Moving to the more strictlyadministrative level, and given theEuropean Union’s interest in the topic,it would seem the time has come to setup administrations responsible for thissubject, opportunely configured as aninterface with the EU administrationand eventually to form a network ofspecialised administrations workingclosely together on these themes formutual benefits.The various aspects mentioned heretake on a specific significance in theItalian system, especially given: thedelayed response to the theme ofcultural creativity; the at timesinadequate organisation of theadministration responsible; and theabsence of a single co-ordination forthe activities of cultural promotion,which are currently divided up andgoverned at local level without anyoverall co-ordination.Action is thus required at the level oforganisation. In particular, there is aneed to create a more flexible structuremaking use of qualified specificcompetencies so that it can interfacesmoothly with the key figures in theEuropean Union and the otherEuropean administrations responsiblefor the promotion of culture.This more flexible administrativestructure which, in line with the mostadvanced models should consultclosely with the business world anduniversities, would carry out thefollowing actions:• benchmark the best practices atEuropean level• analyse the creativity sector atnational level• follow the progress of the Lisbonprocess in close co-operation with thecompetent administrations at state level• provide assistance to the regionaland sub-regional administrations intheir programming and actionsWHITE PAPER ON CREATIVITY 49