The Role of European Transnational Networks in the Digital Transformation throughout Covid-19 Emergency

Abstract

The emergence of European transnational networks (TNs) in diverse policy sectors, including culture, on the one hand well depicts new governance architecture within the digital environment, on the other witnesses an highly mobile, connected and internationalized cultural sector. However, the scarce literature on the topic outlines unclarity in defining TNs and their activities, and evidentiates that a valid conceptual framework to address the networks is still lacking. Covid-19 pandemic hit strongly all Cultural and Creative Sectors, interrupted cultural mobility and drove to rapid digital transformation of sector activities (exhibitions, performances, conferences, etc.). In this emergency, the role of networks as innovator through digital means’, information provider, members’ connector, adaptation supporter and advocacy agency came forth. This paper begins providing an overview on TN definition, and questions how their operate in digital age. Is digital networking still valid paradigm, or would networks as means to implement digitalization as EU Cultural policy priority be more appropriated? The paper is structured as follows: the introduction highlights the debate on defining cultural networks, the following section reframes such debate within digital environment, the third section maps out TNs experimented digital practices that took place during Covid-19 pandemic (taking under examination the period between March 2020 and March 2021). The latter are analysed as evidences of the strengthened role that TN covered during this emergency. In the conclusion suggestions to update conceptual framework to analyze transnational networks in cultural sector within digital shift are proposed.