Cultural observatories and the transfer of scientific knowledge

Cultural observatories face new challenges to advance towards a changing society of knowledge. They are mainly information brokers and focus on facilitating the transfer of knowledge between researchers/academics, cultural workers and cultural policymakers. It is often suggested, though, that this goal is hampered by a lack of understanding between researchers/academics and the users of research results. To gather opinions on this question, a quick poll was carried out among professionals in the cultural sector in Europe. Barriers are mentioned, proposals and suggestions are made, both by researchers and the users of research findings like cultural managers and public policymakers, to improve the most relevant function of cultural observatories: the transference of knowledge.