Today’s young people are not merely passive consumers but co-creators of the new culture and media landscape. This was the clear message at Wednesday's opening of the conference: ‘Promoting a creative generation - children and young people in the new culture and media landscape’, taking place in Göteborg.

In her opening speech, Minister for Culture Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth placed particular emphasis on the importance of focusing on children and young people in the area of culture and digital media. This involves not only access to culture but also opportunities to participate.

“As I see it, the connection between art, inquisitiveness and a democratic society is clear. Culture and art can be seen as a form of exploration, where inquisitiveness is the driving force. And if, from the time you are young, you know that you are worth listening to, that your questions are important, I believe that we will have a richer and more open society characterised by diversity and respect.”

The Minister for Culture also emphasised the need to understand and bridge the digital generation gap that is characteristic of the times we live in.  Instead of prohibitions and limitations, focus should be on supporting children’s and young people’s curiosity and creativity. Digital development, with new media and new ways of communicating, increases the opportunities for children and young people to put their own experiences into words and to find ways of making a complex word comprehensible.

”New media platforms give children and young people opportunities to participate in society on their own terms. This is why it is important to encourage children to use the opportunities that the digital media offer” said Minister for Culture Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth.

Many speakers spoke of school as being the main way to promote children’s and young people’s creativity. The Swedish initiative 'Skapande skola' (Creative school) was brought up as an example of how culture can be integrated into teaching and lead to curiosity and meaning in learning.

In her speech, Professor Anne Bamford, Director of Cultural Programmes for Creativity, Culture & Education in London emphasised that children are born with an innate desire for creativity and that the challenge that schools are facing is to encourage and support this desire.

Renad Qubbaj, from the Tamer Institute in Ramallah, spoke about the national reading campaign initiated by the institute in 1992. Last year, some 22 000 Palestinian children were given the opportunity to learn about literature and develop their interest in reading.

”We are creating a tolerant atmosphere where children and young people are allowed to express themselves", said Renad Qubbaj. “Children and their dreams and hopes are the hope for the future.”

As expressed in the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009, culture and creativity are important future issues for the EU. Vladimir Sucha of the European Commission emphasised the importance of creativity and the right to culture on both individual and national level.

”The cultural dimension is important, not least in times of crisis. Creativity and innovation, correctly used, can contribute to a transformation of both our economies and societies.”

Vladimir Sucha argued that it is important to create a kind of creative ecology where different activities can lead balanced lives and benefit one another.

”We live in an experience-based economy where creativity is one of the cornerstones. I would like to see greater cooperation between enterprise and culture as these areas are already cross breeding. Creativity also pushes the boundaries within the areas of culture and art, leading to economic synergies.

In a future of rapid technological development and social change, it is important to acquire skills and have access to creative tools. Curiosity, the pushing of boundaries and critical thinking all contribute to the creation of a competitive society. Both Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth and Vladimir Sucha agreed that creative development is crucial to the future of Europe. The EU should, according to Vladimir Sucha, become ‘The Creative European Union'.