I'm currently in Toronto, presenting with Dr Jen Ross at the ICTOP conference. This is an ICOM conference which explores the future professional practices and educational knowledge required in the cultural sector.
Jen and I prepared a presentation which explored the notion of networks and flows and the ways in which online cultural exchange are enacted. As a result of this presentation and the three book chapters I've been writing, I've come to understand that the future of social media is as an integral part of a curated cultural communication program.
Here are some thoughts which I am preparing for the last book chapter of the year.
Over the past 10 years the cultural institution sector has been challenged by new online communication platforms which privilege interaction and active participation over passive consumption. Platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube have redefined the way in which people enact and exchange online. While many cultural organisations have experimented with these platforms, few have developed strategic ‘cultural communcation’ programs.
Cultural Communication is an evolving field which is within and/ or in response to cultural activity, is interactive, proactive and offers opportunities for active cultural participation, engagement and co-creation.(Russo 2010)
Cultural Communication methodologies deal with the philosophical assumptions which underlie research directed and/or in response to evolving cultural programs. It uses a variety of ‘digital cultural communication’ methods which offer the tools and literacies required to engage in cultural activity, thus creating active cultural participants.This chapter explores how cultural communication is developing, to methodological structures and methods required to achieve active cultural participation.It takes as its starting point, the notion that cultural communication programs which encourage three way communication can be developed to structured around four distinct methodological areas: environment, experience, engagement and evaluation. It takes these four framing structures and expands them to consider new innovations, risks associated with changing paradigms and measures of success.
This is the starting point and I would be very interested in your thoughts
