One could argue that in its early stage of development the Web was more or less a digital version of our old print and broadcast media: faster and easier surely, but not that different yet.

Gradually new technologies have brought possibilities that were unforeseeable before. It is now clear that our traditional media approach towards the digital information does not suffice any longer. The cultural implications of digitalisation are far greater than just exploiting technical opportunities.

Digitalisation affects the entire spectrum of culture production, distribution and presentation, and the digital domain gives rise to new forms of expression, reflection and exchange. Michael Wesch evocatively illustrated some of the impacts of this digital shift in his videos:

It is safe to say therefore that digital culture is a new paradigm. It is affecting everyone, but the way in which we are affected is not yet fully defined, and not everyone might realise we are in a new situation.

Converging Pathways to New Knowledge is a LabforCulture initiative considering the future of knowledge building and knowledge sharing within a new digital paradigm.

The project has three interconnected stages:

• a series of three online debates, involving invited experts and the LabforCulture community discussing and commenting on knowledge production, knowledge sharing and regulation
• a one day roundtable in Göteborg on July 28 will bring together foundations, governments and cultural organizations and will coincide with the conference of the Swedish presidency, Promoting a Creative Generation
• a reflection document, produced in collaboration with Kennisland which will contain the outcomes of the online debates, and the roundtable reflection to be launched at the Cultural Forum in Brussels at the end of September

The online debates would like to trigger cultural operators to think differently about the digital context they are working in.

The first discussion, on July 7th, will focus on knowledge production and the meaning of information. How can artists bring new meaning to information in a digital context? Can we find new layers of meaning with the help of new technologies?

Click here for the discussion details

A second debate on July 8th will focus on the collective. Now anyone can easily create and distribute knowledge and content, what is the role of the cultural professional? How can cultural organisations redefine themselves in a context of so-called “user-generated content”, where there is not always a particular distinction between production and consumption, between “creators” and “recipients”? How can we release the power of the collective?

Click here for the discussion details

Lastly, on July 14th, we will look at regulation and legislation. New digital possibilities for distribution and multiplication of data add a lot of stress on current regulation around cultural production (copyright, intellectual property etc). Can we organise our knowledge differently, to adjust to the new technical reality? What other business models can we create where freely distributed knowledge can still create added value and possible profit? What regulation/legislation could be improved, should be altered?

Click here for the discussion details