Göran Dahlberg, editor of the cultural journal Glänta, gives his perspective on topics widely discussed in Europe today. How do you keep high quality in your work in long-term perspectives? How do creative industries and artistic practice combine – or do they at all?

What inspires you?

The possibility of putting things together in other ways than they usually are. Encouraging writers and artists to work with issues that inspires them. Inspiring inspiration. And in that way produce momentarily new connections between issues and between people.

What do Glänta do to keep high quality and creativity over the fifteen years it has existed?

We are continuously working with different kinds of journal concepts: focus based, conceptually generated, and plain mixes. So we change the way we work and think continuosly, not only by changing the approach to different issues of the journal, but also by arranging seminars and  parties, publishing books and works that mould public opinion. Everyone involved in all these activities is also working with other things at the same time. And we all enjoy each others company.

In what ways do the talks of creative industries affect artistic practice in positive and negative ways?

I do not think that creative industries is a relevant term. Which are the creative and the non-creative industries? Are we talking about industries as such, or the people involved? By calling your organization a creative industry you are probably trying to convince someone that what you are doing is good for society, that you are creating something. I suppose all industries are trying to be creative in order to invent new products and make profit. Those who succeed are apparently creative, like for instance the arms industry.
The postive aspects of introducing this term, creative industries, is that it widens the perspective (even though it, as mentioned earlier, might be too wide) and makes the too respectful use of the term ”Culture” less frequent.

How do artistic integrity and entrepreneurship combine, do you think?

Calling yourself and your fellow cultural workers entrepreneurs is another way of trying to get respect for what you are doing from the more powerful sectors of society. And it might work, and might not. I am sceptical. In any case the risks are high that the economical, numerical, measurements will be the only ones left.
Earlier contributions on this website of Glänta is”Humoristic Glänta” and ”Culture sponsor businesses”.

The new number of the philosophic Journal and publishing house Glänta is a proof of creativity, future-looking and humour in a pleasant combination. The new issue of the journal is a Future Encyklopedia of new words in the Swedish language. What words will be needed in the future? What concepts will be relevant? Over a hundred authors, journalists, artists, researchers, philosophers have contributed to build this future of words. Reading it is a humouristic travel of words used, but still not in use in any encyklopedia, words that don’t exist and made-up words that might be used in the future.

Later on, on this website, we will get answers from the editor Göran Dahlberg on  questions like: What inspires you? What do Glänta do to keep high quality and creativity over the fifteen year it has existed? In what ways do the talks of creative industries affect artistic practice in positive and negative ways? How do artistic integrity and entrepreneurship combine, do you think?

So, more to come! Also get a glimpse of the Swedish literary scen, read the article from Glänta editorial staff on  Literary perspectives: Sweden at Eurozine. And have a look at Glänta on Facebook.