The Basque Observatory of Culture presents the most prominent actions of the new cycle beginning in 2009.
2009 means the beginning of a new period in the life of the OVC (Basque Observatory of Culture). The aim of this project born in 2006 was to give an answer to the need for a regular information and structural system in the field of culture and its sectors.
This period takes as a referent the global and systemic approach of the Statistical Framework designed by the Observatory and contrasted with the cultural agents. From a general point of view, a new cycle of observation begins, its aim being to obtain a general outlook of culture. This new cycle therefore requires being attentive to debates, tendencies, challenges and the new uses brought up to culture in the current context as well as a critical knowledge and attitude. The Observatory will strengthen these conditions by opening spaces for contrast, reflection and debate with prominent specialists and experts in culture.
This cycle does not turn the look away to sectorial specification. Currently, information on performing arts, music, visual arts and the audiovisual sector is being gathered. The portrait of the fields linked to patrimony will be completed with a new archive operation included within the actions planned for 2009. In short, it will be the first time we will have enough critical mass to know the situation of the cultural offer in terms of production and exhibition. We will be able to know who, where and what a wide spectrum of professional cultural agents do. These are basic questions that have had partial responses; this necessary data will have to be analysed and interpreted in order to offer situation portraits that adjust to the reality they live today.
On the other hand, certain topics require oblique looks. An example of this is the weight of financing and public expenses in culture; another is the analysis of cultural creation. Knowing the situation of the Basque language within Basque culture is of special interest too. All of these elements require analysis and crossed portraits that will complete the interest of the OVC (Basque Observatory of Culture) in transcending sectorial specificities.
Analysing and knowing the cultural reality requires an operation that will manage the adequate range of methodologies, tools and technologies for a reality with clear singularities. Considering it is not the same to look than to know how to look, the OVC is making descriptive statistical operations, analytical studies, configuring working networks on peak research fields. In some researches primary information sources are reached directly through census operations; in others secondary sources are analysed; the cultural offer being echoed in the newspapers is traced; international actions and policies are investigated; comparative analysis with other countries is being carried out; qualitative research is going to be promoted.
From the beginning, the OVC has followed a policy of transparency and a policy of valuing the knowledge generated through the dissemination of the results of its progresses. This activity will logically experience a substantial increase in this new cycle considering the volume of information available will be big. This way, both digital and paper publications and the web will be the main dissemination channels of the results obtained in the researches.
In short, the OVC starts with a new period continuing the task initiated in 2006, however, it aims at being something more than a mere continuation. It means a new tempo, demands a sustained rhythm of activity, a dynamic equilibrium to respond to the new challenges of this period without loosing sight of the objectives for which it was originated.
