Brussels, 27/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - Encouraging a creative generation and ensuring media education in the digital environment were on the agenda for discussion by culture and audiovisual ministers on Friday 27 November, with conclusions on these issues adopted. The discussions were chaired by Swedish Culture Minister Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth.
“Children and young people are our future. In the European Union, we have to find solutions of the future to problems. We have, therefore, to bank on creativity and innovation,” the Swedish minister said. Returning to the conclusions of a conference on developing children's creativity, held in Gothenburg a few months ago, she highlighted the importance of linking the education and culture sectors, to encourage the creative minds of the youngest. Education, Training, Culture and Youth Commissioner Maroš Šefèoviè pointed out that developing children's creativity was one of the messages of the manifesto recently published by the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009 ambassadors, since only a more innovative and creative society can put Europe back on the road to prosperity.
In its conclusions, the Council set out six priorities for action to encourage a creative generation: 1) integrate a “children's and young people's” dimension into policies relevant to the promotion of culture; 2) make full use of the education sector to encourage creativity through culture and cultural expression; 3) encourage and aid cultural establishments (such as museums, libraries, galleries and performance halls) establish better contact with children and young people; 4) promote talent and creativity through culture as part of social inclusion strategies for children and young people; 5) make it easier for all children and young people to have access to culture through the use of information and communication technologies; 6) encourage sharing of best practice and create a factual knowledge base in this area.
The conclusions adopted by the Council on media education are in response to the recommendation adopted by the European Commission on 20 August 2009. Member states back the Commission approach, in particular: 1) the importance given to the media industry's active involvement in promoting media education initiatives; 2) recognising the role that education systems can play in media education, with education and life-long learning strategies; 3) the Commission's intention to encourage broader consensus on media education and to work on sharing best practice. Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding stated that the Commission would work along the lines set out in the recommendation and, in 2011, would put in place assessment criteria to evaluate the extent of media education carried out in member states. (I.L./transl.rt)