Strenghtening the digital value chain: the digital culture center in Mexico

Initiated in 2012 at the initiative of the Mexican Ministry of Culture, the Digital Culture Center focuses on researching the cultural, social and economic implications of using digital technology. The Center – a pioneering initiative in Latin America – seeks to promote digital information and knowledge exchange, critical reading, self-management, and the production of quality local content, in a context in which users also become creators. By placing digital art at the core of its mission, the Center not only highlights the importance of new forms of creation, but also offers precious opportunities for artists who are experimenting with digital tools.

The center has organized numerous conferences, workshops, courses, exhibitions and attracted a great number of visitors, thanks to a strategy of collaboration with other institutions: its success relies on the cooperation between public and private actors, operating as a network that can address specific local challenges. Hence, between 2012 and 2015, the Digital Culture Center supported approximately 320,000 people, organized almost 12,000 activities (300 per year, average) and around 600 film screenings.

This initiative illustrates the commitment of Mexico to fully implement Goal 1 of the Convention and SDGs 8, 16 and 17. Indeed, the Centre allows artists to incorporate digital tools in the cultural value chain, enhancing innovation (Target 17.8) and promoting local cultural products (Target 8.9), while also assisting local communities in accessing information in the digital environment (Target 16.10).