What can you expect?
An interactive afternoon centered on sharing experiences. Through presentations and interactive groups, you will compare your own practices with those of your colleagues. When did we jump on a new trend at the right time, and how did we do it? When did we miss the boat, and what were the consequences? It's these honest stories, both the successes and failures, that provide the most value.
The younger generation you want to reach now is exactly your audience of the future. Reaching them today is the first step. But their behavior changes, as does the world around them. They expect a personal, interactive experience—even from museums, theaters, archives, and stages. Organizations that incorporate this into their long-term plans now will be stronger in the future.
Looking ahead means looking back and creatively anticipating what’s to come. With this approach, we will explore together what the future means for your offerings, your audience, and your business model over the next ten years. You'll leave with new insights, a few concrete ideas, and several new contacts in the sector.
In summary, during this meet-up, you will explore:
- how to systematically track digital trends and signals without it taking over your daily work;
- what the rise of a new, digitally native generation of visitors means for your organization;
- how peer organizations are currently responding to new trends, preparing for the long term, and what you can learn from them.
"You don't need a crystal ball to take action. By actively staying connected with your changing audience, you can already make smart choices for the future."
Program
• 12:00 – 13:00: Networking lunch
• 13:00 – 13:10: Opening
• 13:10 – 13:25: Christian Kuitert (DEN Advisor Futuring) explains why exploring the future is so important for the cultural sector. He also introduces 4 future scenarios to help you envision what your organization might look like in 2036.
• 13:25 – 14:45: Three case studies:
Speakers:
- Janne Kosmos (Pensive Vivifier (opens in new tab)) - About QAAIOS, an autonomous AI hub for (theater) creators. Instead of one chatbot or AI model, QAAIOS is a network of various tools.
- Kris Petrasova (KB (opens in new tab)) - On the future role of the Royal Library in a changing library landscape, including a look ahead at opportunities for audience programming in the (yet-to-be-renovated) KB building.
- Linda Hofman (Fontys (opens in new tab)) - An exploration of the future of creative hubs in the Netherlands and their role in an innovative urban ecosystem.
• 14:45 – 15:00: Break
• 15:00 – 16:15: Round table sessions.
Table hosts:
- Mila Moleman from Studio Vrij (Oxytocin Machine (opens in new tab)) on entrepreneurship in the cultural sector
- Floris Smit from UpscaleXR (Lightroom Expanded (opens in new tab)) on the feasibility and scalability of tech in the cultural sector
- Janne Kosmos from Pensive Vivifier on autonomous, open-source AI in the cultural sector
• 16:15 – 17:00: Closing and drinks
What is futuring?
Futuring or exploring the future involves systematically tracking trends and signals and translating them into possible futures for your organization. You don't predict the future but prepare for multiple scenarios (opens in new tab) — so you can make choices today that will make you future-proof in ten years.
Who is it for?
For everyone in the cultural sector who wants to think ahead. Are you involved in steering your cultural organization's course? Then you're in the right place. No prior knowledge of futuring is required!
About Cultuurloket DigitALL
The DEN Community organizes this meet-up together with Cultuurloket DigitALL. DigitALL supports the digitization of the cultural sector through grants and knowledge sharing. Think of theaters, music venues, museums, cinemas, festivals, and producers of professional performing arts. The program supports large initiatives but also smaller organizations that want to use technology to improve their relationship with their audience. Want to know more? Check www.cultuurloketdigitall.nl (opens in new tab) or follow DigitALL on LinkedIn (opens in new tab).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DEN Community meet-up?Hide explanationShow explanation
The DEN Community meet-up is a recurring, interactive event where professionals from the cultural sector meet and share practical experiences regarding digital transformation. Each edition has its own theme; this time, it is exploring the future.
What will I do during this meet-up?Hide explanationShow explanation
You will share your own experiences with tracking trends and preparing for the future through presentations and small group discussions, and you will learn from the approaches of other organizations. The focus is on interaction and networking, not one-way communication.
Do I need to prepare?Hide explanationShow explanation
Preparation is not necessary but can be helpful. If you attend the workshop Exploring the Future: Ready for the Audience of the Future (24 September) (opens in new tab) two weeks prior, you will be able to engage in more focused discussions during the meet-up.
Who is the meet-up for?Hide explanationShow explanation
For anyone in the cultural sector who wants to prepare their organization for a new generation of visitors and long-term digital developments. No prior knowledge is required.
What does participation cost?Hide explanationShow explanation
Participation is free. Registration is required, as places are limited.
Trainers
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