Elena Polivtseva’s Post

⚡ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭! This time, no LinkedIn summary from me - you really should read the report 🙂. Just one message 👇 ⭕ It’s about a vicious circle that emerged quite clearly for me during the research process: 🔄 Europe is grappling with the rise of right-wing movements, social polarisation, and a degradation of democracy. The risks are serious, the stakes are high. Yet, the future is still predominantly designed in economic terms (think of 400 pages of the Draghi Report). Culture remains sidelined, seen as a 'weak' and 'less relevant' portfolio. It is not part of the SDGs, the Green Deal, or the Democracy Action Plan. 🔄 Meanwhile, cultural policymaking has been working hard to justify its existence by aligning with external causes - whether in economics, diplomacy, or well-being. The cultural sector has also adopted this instumentalising approach for survival. As a result, 'intrinsic value' has become a complacent, hollow concept. 🔄 We continue to advocate for culture by focusing on 'spillovers' and external impacts, but in doing so, 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐤: 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞, 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞. 🔄 Meanwhile, instrumentalising culture hasn't solved the sector's problems. It remains increasingly precarious, and investment in culture has declined over the past decade - despite the data, evidence, and the beautiful frameworks we were developing to measure its impact. '𝐖𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐭, 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝, 𝐧𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐲' (citing Justin O'Connor) 🔄 At the same time, societies are becoming more polarised and individualised, and Europe is facing a democratic decline (here we go, the vicious circle... 🔝). ❓ If not culture, what other force can bring us together and advance the centuries-long conversation about who we are as a society? 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞, 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐬. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐬? For more, read the report : https://lnkd.in/eX6nUkm7 I would like to thank the team of Culture Action Europe, in particular Lars Ebert, Natalie Giorgadze and Luiza Moroz for our collaboration on this important project!

💥 These aren't easy questions, but who said it’s the time for easy ones? 👇 Culture Action Europe suggests the following questions for the hearing of the Commissioner-designate for culture: 📍 How will you address the instrumentalisation and mainstreaming of culture?  📍 How will EU cultural policy coexist with national cultural policies, especially in the current political environment? 📍 How do you see the role of the cultural sector in EU cultural policy?

🌍 We keep discussing international collaborations in the arts sector using the same terms. But aren't things changing? 🤔 Is international collaboration still a priority in the arts? Does it remain a source of learning and inspiration, or has it become more about survival? How is the current global reality shaping transnational artistic work? And what about the post-COVID focus on the 'local'? This event will offer an in-depth discussion on emerging trends in international arts collaborations. Whether you're a cultural worker or a policy-maker, join the conversation! 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲-𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲! https://lnkd.in/e83kZTDH

💡 What can we expect from the new CULT Committee of the European Parliament over the next five years? This long read can serve as your guide👇 The 30 Committee members collectively represent 28 national political parties. We have reviewed the manifestos and programmes of these 28 parties to gain insight into their cultural policy visions and provide a snapshot of the new Committee’s standpoints. Here are some takeaways: ➡ The newly formed CULT Committee 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭-𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 than its predecessor (2019-2024), potentially heightening tensions between national cultural identities and European integration. The Committee’s core consists of centre-right (EPP) and centre-left (S&D) groups. There are only a few strong advocates for Europe as a 'cultural power'. ➡ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬' 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, featured in the Commission President's mission letter, appears in several national party manifestos across the political spectrum, with most initiatives proposed by S&D parties. This raises hopes for progress following the European Parliament's resolution on the EU framework for artists. However, only a tiny minority of parties explicitly endorse a consolidated EU approach on this issue. ➡ 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬, though rarely seen as a broad framework for universal access. Instead, many programmes focus on specific aspects, like museums, libraries, or archaeological sites, and target particular groups, most often youth, the elderly, and people with disabilities. ➡ A key theme among right and centre-right parties, which together form a majority in the CULT Committee, is the 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐭 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬. For some, culture is a tool to consolidate and promote national identity, while for others, it serves to resist cultural ‘invasions’ and ‘threats’. ➡ Views on European integration vary. Some parties, focused on strengthening national identities, view Europe primarily as a platform to promote their own cultures and oppose deeper cultural integration. Others see value in integration itself, envisioning a 'Europe of culture' or Europe as a 'cultural power.' ➡ Some concrete EU-related initiatives, primarily from S&D parties, aim to strengthen EU cultural action, including doubling the Creative Europe budget, boosting international cultural relations, and creating a pan-European agency for heritage management. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eYBMrqux

⚡ We are launching the 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 on October 16. Don’t miss it! After months of hard work, we’re (almost) ready to present the State of Culture report. This paper explores how the needs and self-perception of the cultural sector interact with today's political dynamics and policymaking. There is a lot to share. Among other things, we’ll discuss 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲. Is there a way forward? Join us online on October 16 to find out more. Register here. 👇 https://lnkd.in/eF46x6G5

How does the Commission President envision the future of EU cultural policy? Spoiler: more ambitiously than ever before. Ursula von der Leyen has released mission letters for all Commissioner-designates, outlining priorities for each portfolio over the next five years. The mission letter for the Commissioner responsible for culture highlights the following key priorities: 1️⃣ Developing a new Culture Compass, an overarching strategic framework to guide and leverage the multiple dimensions of culture. 2️⃣ Improving working conditions for artists and cultural professionals. 3️⃣ Unlocking the competitiveness potential of cultural and creative industries. 4️⃣ Enhancing access to cultural heritage, particularly for young people. 5️⃣ Developing an AI strategy tailored to cultural and creative industries. These priorities pave the way for: 🔹 Elevating culture at the EU level, hopefully through the new strategic framework. 🔹 Following up on the Parliament's resolution on working conditions. 🔹 Tapping into potential future investments proposed in the Draghi report on competitiveness. 🔹 Shaping an AI approach relevant to cultural and creative industries. However, there’s no mention of Creative Europe or its possible successor, despite the next five years being crucial for designing the future programme. See the letter here: https://lnkd.in/dffNpRYu

⚡ Glenn Micallef (Malta), the youngest commissioner nominee, gets the EU portfolio for culture. What can we expect? To the extent it matters, the Labour Party, of which Micallef is a member, has developed an extensive national programme for culture. Some of its key focus areas include: ➡ Working conditions in the cultural sector: the upcoming launch of Malta’s Charter of the Status of the Artist, reducing income tax, and creating new spaces for artists (such as studios and rehearsal areas). ➡ Access to culture: developing public spaces, facilitating children’s access to cultural activities, promoting reading and modernising libraries, and introducing a Culture Pass for young people under the age of 25. ❗ Malta's current Cultural Policy, adopted under the Labour Government, is one of the few national cultural policy agendas in the EU that acknowledges the multifaceted role of culture in climate action, describes culture as a 'public good', and sets an ambitious vision for its role in well-being. 🤔 Culture is grouped with 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 within the same Commission portfolio. What can we expect from combining culture with 'intergenerational fairness' in the same portfolio? Can this lead to greater interest in viewing culture as a means to envision the future, rather than merely reflecting on the past?