Madrid, Tuesday, February 6, 2023. – A dialogue organized by the Reina Sofía School of Music, and moderated by journalist Rafa Latorre, brought together senior executives and institutional representatives this morning to discuss the impact of culture in the digital age. The meeting took place immediately before the annual Board of Trustees meeting, the highest representative body of this center for advanced musical training, which was held afterwards under the Presidency of Her Majesty Queen Sofía.
The participants in the dialogue agreed that culture, a sector that in Spain represents 2.4% of GDP and 3.5% of employment, according to a 2022 report prepared by the Reina Sofía School and EY, contributes a differential value to social and economic development.
Ana Botín, Executive Chairman of Banco Santander, addressed the role of culture in companies in a context of cultural and digital transformation. “Culture is the glue of a company, a foundation, and a country. A solid, inclusive corporate culture open to change fosters a collaborative environment where employees can explore new ideas and technologies, which is essential for digital transformation. We can learn a lot from the cultural sector, where working together and collaborating is fundamental to achieving goals and remaining an important economic vector in Spain,” she said.
For his part, Emilio Viciana, Minister of Education, Science and Universities of the Community of Madrid, referred to the need to promote the role of the Arts in educational plans at all levels. “Our mission as educational leaders, and as Spaniards, is to ensure that every student is able to receive the magnificent heritage of Spain, a leading cultural power. It is our duty and it is the right of every child and young person. Especially in Madrid, which since it was the Court, thanks to Felipe II, has been at the service of cultural creation, and in Madrid people from all over the world met and meet. Music and dance must continue to be an irreplaceable part of the sentimental education of young people. To this end, the Community of Madrid is launching a battery of measures, to which more will be added, and we will announce this in the coming days with the Plan for a free, plural and quality education. It is also about Madrid continuing to be, and increasingly so, the European capital of music, higher education, or audiovisual creation in Spanish. And the effort of companies is necessary, in public-private collaboration, as we always defend from the Community of Madrid,” he stated.
The speakers referred to the need to generate the best conditions to promote cultural patronage and impact investment, as well as the relevance of companies expressing a clear commitment to the cultural sector.
José María Álvarez-Pallete, Executive Chairman of Telefónica, emphasized the relevance of promoting a digital humanism that connects with people: “We are witnessing a digital and technological revolution. But technology is not the most important thing, people are the most important thing. Precisely because of the relevance acquired by the digital and technological world in our society, it is time to vindicate digital humanism. It is time to put people at the center and decide together what that digital world should be like. Technology will take us where people decide it should take us.”
Mariano de Paco, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Sports of the Community of Madrid, highlighted today that “in the Community of Madrid we work to place culture, in its broadest sense, at the center of political action, developing, in addition, projects in constant collaboration with those institutions that, as is the case of the Reina Sofía School of Music, disseminate this universal heritage among citizens. I trust that the School and our Orchestra and Choir of the Community of Madrid, ORCAM, created in 1987, and currently directed by Alondra de la Parra, can join forces with collaborative projects that allow us to attract and reward the work of young talents.”
In addition to expanding on the synergies that need to be developed between the cultural and business spheres, the dialogue highlighted the transformative capacity of culture and its potential to unite society around common principles.
José Bogas, CEO of Endesa, referred specifically to access to culture, a value he considers key in an inclusive society. “Culture is the best expression, the most genuine and authentic of transversality. Culture has the ability to rise above any restriction, above any political regime or endure over time generation after generation. For this reason, I want to bring up the importance that cultural patronage continues to have to ensure that culture is able to continue playing its role in society”, he pointed out.
An idea that was taken up by Pablo Fernández, founder and president of Clidrive, who defended the relevance of culture in the entrepreneurial arena. Himself one of the most successful Spanish entrepreneurs, he defended in his speech the importance of taking advantage of the opportunities offered by culture: “It is necessary to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in the field of culture. Technologies such as artificial intelligence open up great business opportunities for digital entrepreneurs to capitalize on the enormous artistic and cultural heritage and lead the creation of employment and wealth in the coming years in the sector”.
The event is the first to bring together senior executives and institutional representatives to discuss the impact of culture on economic and social development, one of the topics that the School addresses as a priority, as demonstrated by the publication in May 2022 of the report that it prepared jointly with EY, the first to analyze the value of culture from the perspective of the Performing Arts and Classical Music. Likewise, last year the School prepared its first impact report in collaboration with Management Solutions. This report will be prepared annually with the aim of assessing its work and the degree of compliance with its objectives and that, in addition, it helps in decision-making and the orientation of its activities.
