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Digital Culture: The Changing Dynamics
information gathered is so diverse that it truly cannot be synthesized into an
articulated supposition.
Analysis of the cultural portals and networks position within European cultural
policy structure has shown that both portals and networks are only mentioned in their
capacity of national relevance (national cultural portals and networks). They are not
included or considered by policy structures as organizations that are a
commonsensical result of new technology advancements nor are they recognized for
their abilities and possibilities to be productive mediums for intercultural
communication and dialogue, thus promoting cultural diversities and identities.
Going back to the claim that cultural portals and cultural networks are a new
generation of cultural organizations, and to comparative analysis of cultural policy
provisions for these organizations (or rather, lack thereof), this situation is
predictable. Every organization is putting effort into finding the most suitable way to
organize itself. This can be viewed as a positive progression – after all, the scopes of
activity and areas that these organizations cover is not a fixed condition upon which
the entire organization’s undertaking can be firmly estimated and planned. Indeed,
the global cultural landscapes can be described as everything but fixed. Hence, the
concern arises for the organizations that have inflexible governance and management
structures – whether these structures will be able to respond and react appropriately to
the challenging and fluctuating environment in which they operate. However, the
main issue can be defined as inappropriate or non-existent cultural policy provision.
If there was actual articulated interest and substantial expertise to adapt current policy
structures and integrate these new types of organization (with emphasis on
acknowledgement of their worth and value in the context of international cultural
cooperation and promotion of cultural diversity and intercultural communication),
there would be less improvisation in the governance, management and funding of
these organizations. However, going back to the anticipated input of expertise, one of
the most important points of this research surely is the absurdity that whereas most of
the surveyed cultural portals and networks are active in the field of cultural policy by
informing it through research work, the same policy that they inform does not
recognize or include them in its structure.
Until they are given assistance through policy provisions, the organizations are left
to themselves to attain the best form and way of functioning. The extent of their
continued existence, or rather the continuity of the active functioning of existing and
emerging portals and networks, will show whether this is an effective solution.
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