“Not since Viking pirates rampaged through Christendom in the 8th century have youthful Swedes so threatened western civilisation.” Andrew Keen gives his view on digital culture and ongoing debates in this Telegraph article.

Swedish piracy – digital piracy, that is – is challenging the very essence of traditional copyright law. And even legal Swedish enterprises – such as the popular new music sharing website Spotify – are threatening to rewrite all the laws of conventional media economics.

During Incubate Andrew Keen will give a keynote speech about the same topics mentioned in the article. In his keynote, Andrew Keen will present a follow up to his book: how can cultural organizations not only arm themselves against the cult of the amateur, but even use modern technology to their advantage. How can a museum, a theater or a festival not only maintain its role as a gatekeeper, but even strengthen it? And what can the artists themselves do?

A few weeks before the lecture De Groene Amsterdammer will publish an essay by mr. Keen based on his keynote. After mr. Keen’s keynote lecture, an discussion between an international panel of experts from the fields of arts, economy and politics will take place. The panelists in the discussion are Konrad Boehmer, Hans Abbing, Amelia Andersdotter and Leyland James Kirby.

Konrad Boehmer (Berlin, 1941) is an international acclaimed composer, the director of the Institute of Sonology of the Royal Conservatory in The Hague and chairman of the board of copyright association Buma/ Stemra.

Hans Abbing (Utrecht, 1946) is an economist, artist and sociologist. He is professor Emeritus in Art-Sociology at the University of Amsterdam. He published several books on these subjects, among which “Why are Artists Poor? The Exceptional Economy of the Arts” and “Van Hoge naar Nieuwe Kunst”.

Amelia Andersdotter (Enköping, 1987) holds a Lisbon seat in the European parliament for Sweden’s Pirate Party, that campaigned on a platform of drastic copyright revision.

James Kirby (Edgeley, 1974) is one of the UK’s leading electronic artists. He gained notierity ‘hacking’ other artists music under the V/VM alias. At Incubate 2009, mr. Kirby will perform as The Caretaker. He will also curate the Putting the Arts back into Darts event, where art students will discuss issues about copyright, creative commons and original vs. copied works.

The discussion will be moderated by Xandra Schutte, editor-in-chief of De Groene Amsterdammer magazine.

Date:

• Friday 18 September
• 14:00 – 17:00
• @ De NWE Vorst

Get your tickets for this special event here.

Get your tickets for Incubate festival here.