The pandemic-induced unprecedented situation of standstill constitutes a threat to cultural production and social life as we know them. The unprecedented acceleration of the ubiquity of digital technologies strikes as one of the most apparent consequences of this emergency. These reinforced or newly acquired online habits will most probably persist also after the lifting of the lockdown, radically affecting the way people interact and relate.
The accelerating pervasiveness of digitalization forces cultural institutions and actors to rethink their role as well as their practice, and fast. Experimenting with hybridity of content and formats has already been at the forefront of cultural and artistic practices for some time now, pushing the boundaries of creativity. This is questioning the role of producer and viewer along the way, increasingly involving audiences and activating co-creative processes.
As we have no choice but digital networks to access other people’s inputs, creativity, reflection and inner worlds, cultural institutions can step up to the challenge of radically rethinking cultural space. This brings to the fore pressing questions, such as what it means to stage performances, exhibitions, and other cultural events meant for hybridity as well as how to keep it relevant and engaging.
