Every year during the last decade, the International Summer School in Cultural Economics took place in the Netherlands!

Participant took advantage of the extensive experience we built up over all these years and a network of alumni that spans the world. The Summer school drew on the skills and knowledge of the top ranked international master program on cultural economics and entrepreneurship at the Erasmus University.

In the short and intensive courses participants mingled with professionals and advanced students from all over the world to get the latest insights concerning the economy of the arts, culture and creative industries. They learned especially about the value – based approach which was developed at the Erasmus University.

Our approach 

The courses used the Value-based Approach to figure out how to realize the values of cultural organizations, including the financing. This approach stresses the role of values, and points out the different logics for the realization of values.  This got us to discuss the special characteristics of cultural goods and their valorization; the mission of a project, an organization or a sector; cultural entrepreneurship, financial strategies, and alternative ways of evaluation. The value – based approach provides crucial insights for cultural entrepreneurship. We paid special attention to the financing of creative activities. Participants learned from best practices and by practicing themselves.

Program & Method

The courses consisted of a series of interactive seminars, group discussions, a few workshops, and an excursion.  The topics covered:  Cultural values and their articulation and the realization; Creative economy; Creative industries; Policies supporting cultural industries; Strategic planning and financing; Cultural entrepreneurship and New methods for evaluation of the impact of cultural and creative industries

The courses stimulated interaction among the participants by the development of a common project, personal reflection on one’s own values and purposes, and applications of the ideas presented. Each participant had a chance to present his or her own project and will receive professional advice.

Faculty

The courses were endorsed by the cultural economics program of the Erasmus University (that offers an international master on cultural economics and entrepreneurship) and Association of Cultural Economics International.

The faculty, led by professor dr. Arjo Klamer (Erasmus University, Rotterdam), included academics in the field of cultural economics and practitioners.

For whom

• Professionals working for or with private and public cultural institutions;
• Lecturers, researches and students who are interested in cultural management, policies and studies;
• Students who are interested in the master of cultural economics and entrepreneurship at Erasmus University;
• Representatives of public national and trans-national institutions dealing with culture;
• Curious people who would like to know more about the subject.