Cultural Deal for Europe
Make culture central in the EU’s Green and Sustainable Future
The Hague / Brussels, 16 November 2021
On 18 November 2021 from 15:00 to 18:00 CET, the third edition of the annual policy conversation “A Cultural Deal for Europe” invites representatives of the European cultural ecosystem and policy-makers to engage in a collective effort to build a more equal, sustainable and fair Europe with culture at the heart of its policies. By embedding culture into policymaking at all levels we can make sure the EU recovers economically, socially and emotionally from the pandemic into a more inclusive and cohesive union.
Jointly organised by Culture Action Europe (CAE), the European Cultural Foundation (ECF), Europa Nostra, also in its capacity as coordinator of the European Heritage Alliance, and Bozar – the Centre for Fine Arts, the event focuses on the contribution of culture and cultural heritage to Europe’s recovery and its green, more sustainable and inclusive future. The 2021 edition puts special focus on the power of culture to achieve the ambitions of the European Green Deal to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent in the world by 2050. It will discuss the central role of culture in the post-pandemic recovery and in key policy priorities such as the Conference on the Future of Europe. The debate aims to inspire and engage the wider European community of artists, cultural workers, creative industries, heritage stakeholders and policy-makers working towards a more resilient and sustainable future for Europe and its citizens.
During the last year’s edition, the organisers jointly launched a Cultural Deal for Europe, a transversal, overarching framework that should demonstrate the EU’s political commitment to place culture at the heart of the European project.
This year’s event will be opened by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (video message). Two main themes on “Culture for Recovery and Sustainability of Europe” and “Culture for the Future of Europe” will lead the discussion and engage a series of prominent speakers, such as European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira (video message), MEP Salima Yenbou (Greens/EFA, France), Elena Polivtseva, Head of Policy and Research, IETM, Jordi Pascual, Coordinator of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) Committee on Culture (online), Gijs de Vries, Senior visiting fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and Tamas Szucs, Director for Culture, Creativity and Sport, DG Education and Culture, European Commission. In a series of dialogues the moderator, the speakers and the audience will work towards a new set of recommendations. The closing remarks will be delivered by the event moderator Tamsin Rose, Senior Fellow at Friends of Europe, who will present the visual time-lapse created live during the event by the artist Menah.
The event takes place in a hybrid format at Bozar, Brussels and online. Online participation of the press is welcome, upon separate registration.
The event will be livestreamed on the Youtube and Facebook channels of the organisers.
Contacts
Culture Action Europe
Natalie Giorgadze, Communications and Community Director
natalie@cultureactioneurope.org, +32486831433
European Cultural Foundation
Friso Wiersum, Project Manager Communications
fwiersum@culturalfoundation.eu, +31647158535
Europa Nostra
Vicky Makridou, Digital Communication and Social Media
vm@europanostra.org, +31618497463
Background
The first ever joint event of Culture Action Europe, the European Cultural Foundation and Europa Nostra in 2019 served as a platform to advocate – successfully – for the explicit mention of Culture in the title of the portfolio of a dedicated European Commissioner, and to advocate together for larger financial support for the cultural, creative and cultural heritage sectors in the next MFF 2021-2027.
When Covid-19 hit the world in 2021 and affected most severely the cultural ecosystem with losses up to 90% of income, Culture Action Europe, the European Cultural Foundation and Europa Nostra launched the Cultural Deal for Europe, a transversal, overarching framework calling for the EU’s political commitment to place culture at the heart of the European project.
Today, we promote the Cultural Deal for Europe as a call from a wider European cultural community to acknowledge the pivotal role of culture in shaping the future of our lives. Europe needs a New Cultural Deal because there is no recovery without culture.
The Cultural Deal for Europe campaign has been publicly endorsed by more than 700 Europeans: link.
Photo and interview opportunity
Following the event on 18 November, 3pm-6pm, representatives of the European cultural ecosystem and policy-makers are available for interviews at Rotonde Bertouille, Bozar, entrance 11 rue Baron Horta. Covid Safe Ticket and ID required to access the venue.
About the organisers
Culture Action Europe (CAE) is the major European network of cultural networks, organisations, artists, activists, academics and policymakers. CAE is the first port of call for informed opinion and debate about arts and cultural policy in the EU. As the only intersectoral network, it brings together all practices in culture, from the performing arts to literature, the visual arts, design and cross-arts initiatives, to community centres and activist groups.
www.cultureactioneurope.org
European Cultural Foundation (ECF) promotes a European sentiment through developing and supporting cultural initiatives that let us share, experience and imagine Europe. The first foundation with a European mission and vision (founded 1954), ECF believes in the power of culture to achieve a united Europe of diversity, democracy and freedoms, where solidarity, mutual respect and collaboration contribute to a shared sense of belonging.
www.culturalfoundation.eu
Europa Nostra is the European voice of civil society committed to safeguarding and promoting cultural and natural heritage. It is a pan-European federation of heritage NGOs, supported by a wide network of public bodies, private companies and individuals. It is recognised as the largest and the most representative heritage network in Europe. Europa Nostra actively contributes to the definition and implementation of European strategies and policies related to heritage, through a participatory dialogue with European Institutions and the coordination of the European Heritage Alliance.
www.europanostra.org
Bozar – the Centre for Fine Arts Brussels is a multi-purpose cultural venue in Brussels, Belgium. Bozar is hosting the 2021 edition of the Cultural Deal for Europe policy conversation.
www.bozar.be
The 2021 edition of the annual policy conversation is brought to you in partnership with the Rebuilding Europe with Culture Campaign.
#CulturalDealEU
EUROPA NOSTRA
The European Voice of Civil Society committed to Cultural Heritage
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