LabforCulture set out its vision for 2008-2012 at its 3rd Annual Assembly in Lisbon, at the prestigious Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation on 27 November. The online platform for European culture and arts with edited information in five languages and social networking space is now emerging from its pilot phase and urged the cultural sector to become more experimental with online technologies. Keynote speakers Jarmo Eskelinen from Forum Virium Helsinki and Nokia’s Riitta Vänskä described vividly the ‘no strings attached’ potential of cultural cooperation through new digital services and capabilities. A panel discussion, moderated by Kathinka Dittrich von Weringh and featuring Kathrin Deventer (EFA), Adam Jeanes and GiannaLia Cogliandro (ENCATC), probed the practical issues of extending the impact and reach of LabforCulture. Several participants called for EU member states and institutions to back LabforCulture as strongly as Europe’s foundations sector has been doing.

The Business Plan for 2008-2012 was presented by LabforCulture Director, Katherine Watson. This described the plans for developing LabforCulture’s resources and its community of users as well as raising the profile and coverage of the platform in and beyond Europe, always with a view to the added value it can bring to the sector.

The Assembly was joined by participants from 21 countries including ministries, the foundation sector and members of the network of European Cultural Foundation’s Fora, with the clear aim of helping to spread the word among Europe’s nations and regions and gather new support. The LabforCulture Steering Committee also convened on the eve of the Assembly, discussing the future plans in detail.