Creativity needed more than ever in the creative industry

The Corona-crisis and the lockdown hits severely, and particularly the cultural and creative industries. Already a traditionally precarious industry not having deep pockets, COVID‑19 knocks out most core activities of the sector. Concerts, expositions, performances, teaching activities… they all have human interaction and social gathering at its core. The whole ecosystem of the sector is at risk. And all those contributing to make the sector alive are without income. From small local initiatives to big international events, they are cancelled for an indeterminate period. How is this dealt with?

I teach the introduction to biology course, which is probably one of the first courses that you will take at the MSP. I also coordinate the practical courses, so the first time that you go to the lab, you will encounter me as well. I’m one of the first faces you will see here, and I want you to feel at home and be inspired from the very beginning of your studies.

For me, Problem-Based Learning is about democratising the classroom. It is about realising that everyone has something of value to add (not only the teacher) and that everyone in the room can bring something to the discussion. It is a very productive way to solve problems and to move forward.

Amidst the complaints about lack of productivity and switch to online education, I feel almost guilty to say that I also enjoy my new corona-induced working reality. Well, I would not consciously choose to combine work with childcare. As for the rest, my work satisfaction has actually improved. I know that this sounds pretentious, so let me explain.

Everyone agrees that we are living in a very special time, to say the least, in a situation that none of us has ever experienced. We are also exposed to news articles and opinions on a daily basis that discuss the way forward and the decisions to be taken. Should the (partial) lockdown of the country continue? Should borders be open or closed? Should the schools open again? Or should we all start to wear face masks? But who is taking these decisions? 

During the Easter weekend there was a lack of clarity about what the rules are at the German-Dutch border. What is actually still allowed when it comes to travelling from the Netherlands to Germany and vice versa? Both the government in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and in the Netherlands have communicated recommendations not to enter the country at Easter. Dear tourists: stay away! That sounded like good advice. Or was it a ban? That makes quite a difference. But it wasn't clear from the communication from both governments which of the two, advice or ban, was meant exactly. This lead to confusing situations at the border.

It’s been almost a month since the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the way we live and work. Now that we are more used to, in a manner of speaking, the extraordinary measures to curtail the rampant spread of the virus, it’s time to seriously consider, and openly discuss, this crisis’ impact on human rights.

It is a tough time for everyone during this current pandemic, but increasing reports worldwide indicate that marginalised groups, including people with disabilities, are suffering even more due to structural discrimination. When governments fail to secure the survival and dignity of people with disabilities, civil society organisations need to take a stand.

We are beginning to hear some good news in these challenging times. The physical distancing measures seem to be working in many countries, including the Netherlands. And the rate of infection is slowing somewhat, even in disease hotspots such as Italy and Spain. In many places, therefore, authorities are beginning to reflect on how they can ‘reopen’ society, realising that self-isolation and the closing of schools and businesses can only be sustained for so long without causing severe damage.

The coronavirus crisis has given rise to numerous initiatives by governments around the world to combat the pandemic by gathering, sharing, and transferring data, both personal and anonymized. A great deal of attention has been given to proposals for increased data gathering within the EU, and many statements have been issued about them by European institutions, data protection authorities, and academics. However, less attention has been given to the protection that personal data transferred from the EU receive in countries that have adopted such measures.These measures raise questions both about respect for the rights of privacy and data protection within the EU/EEA, discussed below, and about the protection that personal data transferred from the EU receive in third countries that have been found to provide “adequate protection” based on EU standards, which is the subject of this comment.