Brussels, 24 October 2023
ENCATC, the leading European Network on cultural management and policy, announced the winner of the prestigious 2023 edition of the ENCATC Research Award. This annual award recognizes outstanding research contributions in the field of cultural management and policy.
After a rigorous evaluation process by a distinguished jury of international experts, the winning research project was selected for its ground-breaking insights and significant impact on the cultural sector. The research project titled “Transnational Networks between European Governance and Local Chance in the Cultural and Creative Sector, if not for harmonizing Policy, then what?”, innovates in the analysis of European networks policy projects and strategies.
The recipient of the 2023 ENCATC Research Award, revealed at the annual ENCATC Research Award Ceremony held in Helsinki on the evening of 12 October, in the frame of the 2023 ENCATC Congress, is Carlotta Scioldo. As a researcher and consultant focusing on EU cultural policies, Carlotta has acquired a multifaced view of the cultural and creative sector in Europe. Her fundamental drive is to bridge the communication gap between the cultural sector and policymaking, ensuring that the functioning and aspirations of the artistic field are effectively conveyed. With this motivation, she has worked as dance dramaturg, joined the Creative Europe Unit at EACEA, and served as Network Manager and Policy Advisor the European Dancehouse Network.
The winner will have her work published in the form of a book inside the ENCATC Advances in Cultural Management and Policy, published by Routledge, the world’s leading academic publisher in the Humanities, Social Sciences and STEM.
“This year’s ENCATC Research Award International Jury had to select among two very solid research works submitted by the finalists. The winning thesis was rated very highly by all Jury members, for all selection criteria. The Jury greatly valued the quality of the research and the research methodology, the innovative character of the research design, as well as the relevance and potential to be an inspiration for the field and policymakers. It is a truly original research work, which offers new theoretical developments, while providing a practical application of the research results” said Gerald Lidstone, President of the Jury of the Award.
On behalf of the Cultural Management Fund of the University of Antwerp, Annick Schramme, Award Jury member and partner, expressed: “We are very happy and proud with this joint award. ENCATC and the Fund Cultural Management from the University of Antwerp share the same values: with this award we want to invest in the future of cultural management and cultural policy research. In this BANI world (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible) it is important to stimulate critical thinking and looking for foundations for the practice. With her research, Carlotta Scioldo provided very relevant and useful insights for European networks and European policies. This is how the 2023 Research Award will also contribute to the advancement of cultural practices.”
Moved by this recognition, the winner said: “The award represents significant recognition for my research endeavours, marking a personal milestone in my professional journey. I hope that this award will open doors to opportunities, that will allow me to further pursue my research on the European Union’s cultural policy mechanisms and discourse, with a particular focus on cultural networks. I strongly believe that further research on the cultural policy is needed with the aid of public policy debate, for a better understanding of the cultural policy mechanisms and their political implications”.
Closing the ceremony, the ENCATC Secretary General, GiannaLia Cogliandro Beyens, commented: “ENCATC is honoured to mark the 10th edition of our Research Award, reaffirming our unwavering commitment to championing the endeavours of emerging researchers on the world stage. We are thrilled to welcome to this year’s winner to the distinguished community of scholars engaged in ground-breaking comparative research in the fields of cultural policy and cultural management.”
CATEGORY: ENCATC RESEARCH AWARD FINALIST
Alongside the 2023 winner, the other finalist Giuliana Ciancio (University of Antwerp), was praised for her relevant contribution to the field of cultural management and policy research. In recognition of her exceptional achievements, the finalist was offered the opportunity to publish an article focusing on her PhD thesis, “Cultural policy and emotional clusters in the post-global context. Performing arts and emotions between top-down and bottom-up negotiations”, on the European Journal of Cultural Management and Policy.
About the ENCATC Research Award
The ENCATC Research Award aims to encourage and promote excellence in research and contribute to the dissemination of knowledge in the field of cultural management and policy. It serves as a platform to highlight the critical role of research in advancing the cultural sector and fostering sustainable cultural practices. The Award is an initiative of ENCATC, in partnership with the Cultural Management Fund of the University of Antwerp.
CATEGORY: BEST RESEARCH PAPER 2023
On the occasion of the ENCATC Research Award Ceremony, the name of the winner of the Best Research Paper was also announced and its recipient unveiled.
After a rigorous evaluation process by a distinguished jury of international researchers, the winning research project was selected on the basis of the following criteria: relevance of the thematic area to ENCATC, quality of the research and the research methodology, originality of the research topic, innovative character of the research design, relevance and inspiration for the field and for policy makers, and quality of writing. The research paper selected as winner, titled “Greening our future: cultural policy and the ecological imperative”, explores innovative sustainable practices for the cultural and creative sector.
The recipient of the 2023 ENCATC Best research paper is Vânia Rodrigues. She is a highly respected researcher and practitioner. Vânia is currently the principal investigator at CEIS20 from the University of Coimbra (Portugal). She holds a PhD in Artistic Studies from the University of Coimbra (2022) and Master in Cultural Policy and Management from the City University of London (2009). She worked as a manager, curator and consultant for several cultural organizations, both in the institutional sphere and with independent structures. Author of 2 books on production and management in the performing arts. Currently, Principal Researcher of the R&D project Green Production – Performing Arts in Transition.
In recognition of the important contribution for the advancement of the debate on sustainability, this paper will be also granted a publication in the European Journal of Cultural Management and Policy.
About the Best Research Paper Award
The ENCATC Best Research Paper is awarded, on the occasion of the ENCATC Annual Congress, to
the best work among those submitted for the ENCATC Education and Research Session. This recognition, awarded by an international Jury composed by members of the Congress Scientific Committee, includes the publication of the paper in the European Journal of Cultural Management and Policy in full open access, thus making the research available and visible for the research community in the field.
Learn more in the dedicated press release.