Digital transformation is necessary, observes State Secretary Uslu during working visit to DEN

State Secretary Gunay Uslu, Youssef Louakili (Director of Media and Creative Industry at OCW), Annemieke Kluwen (Coordinating Policy Officer for Culture and Digital Transformation at OCW), and Eef Masson (Coordinating Policy Officer for Information Policy and Digital Transformation) visited DEN. It was a great opportunity to highlight the importance and necessity of digital transformation and to indicate the role DEN can play in this. It led to an animated discussion.

“Cultural organizations don’t all need to reinvent the wheel to work in a future-proof way,” said director Maaike Verberk. “As a knowledge institute, we develop methodologies, identify trends, and train cultural professionals. We help the sector find and engage (new) audiences.” Two members of the Supervisory Board – Lucien Brouwer (CMO RTL) and Norbert Bode (Communication & Marketing Director Holland Festival) were present and illustrated that groundbreaking collaborations are essential for cultural organizations in digital transformation.

Beautiful practical stories illustrated developments and needs in the industry. Annelies Meuleman, business director of the Drents Museum, spoke about opportunities and challenges for her museum and the help DEN can provide. This fall, for example, work will be done through a pilot project to shape the necessary organizational change associated with digital transformation. Leon van Rooij, founder and director of Playgrounds, showed how his institute and platform manage to create and connect international creative communities within illustration, animation, games, (documentary) films, digital art, and design. By incorporating digital innovation into their strategy, Playgrounds is already reaching the audience of the future.