Investing in our culture is investing in our future

01 Nov 2019
Liveurope Day 2019 picture
Damon de Backer

Investing in our culture is investing in our future: An open letter to EU leaders from Europe's culture and creative sectors

Dear President of the European Council, Dear Member States representatives,

We are writing as a group of 90 organisations from across Europe’s cultural and creative sectors ahead of the European Council discussions on the future EU budget. At this key juncture of the negotiations on a future EU Multi-Financial Framework (2021-2027), we call on you to support the European Parliament’s proposed budget for the Creative Europe Programme 2021-20271, the only EU framework Programme dedicated to cultural and creative sectors.

Today, Creative Europe represents a mere 0,15% of the overall EU Budget. This is by no means proportionate to our sectors’ contribution to the EU economy, which stands at €509bn in value added to GDP and over 12 million full-time jobs (7.5 % of the EU’s work force)2. Our culture and our talents support artistic freedom and media pluralism, which are crucial for maintaining open, inclusive and creative societies. Yet, culture is low on the EU’s political agenda, and these sectors remain structurally underfinanced. The financing gap for Europe’s cultural and creative SMEs alone is estimated to be somewhere between €8bn and €13bn3. This is why we welcome the European Parliament's proposal to increase the Creative Europe budget to €2.8bn. We call on the Council to support this much-needed boost to the future of Europe’s arts, culture and heritage, and the values they promote.

The contribution of Europe’s cultural and creative sectors to the social, economic and artistic development of Europe fully justifies the added value of EU investment in culture. Our common values and our unique cultural diversity lie at the center of our collective European project and are the best ambassadors for the EU’s global influence in the world. Investing in our culture is investing in our future. Let’s show a high level of ambition and shape a brighter future for Europe.

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  1. Proposal for a regulation establishing the Creative Europe programme (2021 to 2027) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1295/2013 (COM(2018) 366 final)
  2. European Parliament report on a coherent EU policy for cultural and creative industries (2016/2072(INI))
  3. European Commission Impact assessment accompanying the Proposal for a Regulation establishing the InvestEU Programme. SWD(2018) 314 final

The undersigned organizations:

  1. AEC - Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen
  2. AEPO ARTIS
  3. AER - Association of European Radios
  4. ANIMATION in EUROPE
  5. b.creative - the global network for cultural & creative entrepreneurs
  6. CEM - Centre Européen de Musique
  7. CEPI- EUROPEAN AUDIOVISUAL PRODUCTION
  8. CEPIC - Centre of the Picture Industry
  9. CICAE - Confédération Internationale des Cinémas d'Art et d'Essai
  10. CAE - Culture Action Europe
  11. CEATL - European Literary Translators
  12. CILECT - International Association of film and television schools
  13. Circostrada Network
  14. Cumulus
  15. EAA - European Association of Archaeologists
  16. EAS - European Association for Music in Schools
  17. EBU - European Broadcasting Union
  18. ECCD - European Coalition for Cultural Diversity
  19. E.C.C.O. - European Confederation of Conservator-Restorers' Organisations
  20. ECF - European Cultural Foundation
  21. ECSA - European Composer & Songwriter Alliance
  22. EFA - European Festivals Association
  23. EFAITH - European Federation of Associations of Industrial and Technical Heritage
  24. EGDF - European Games Developer Federation
  25. EIFB - European and International Booksellers Federation
  26. ELIA - European League of Institutes of the Arts
  27. EMA - European Museum Academy
  28. EMC - European Music Council
  29. EMCY - European Union of Music Competitions for Youth
  30. EMEE - European Music Exporters Exchange
  31. EMMA - European Music Managers Alliance
  32. EMU - European Music School Union
  33. ENCATC – European Network on cultural management and policy
  34. ENCC - European Network of Cultural Centres
  35. ERIH - European Route of Industrial Heritage
  36. ETC - European Theatre Convention
  37. European Choral Association - Europa Cantat
  38. Eurocinema
  39. Europa Cinemas
  40. Europa Distribution, The European Network of Independent Film Publishers and Distributors
  41. Europa International
  42. European Jazz Network
  43. Europa Nostra
  44. Europavox
  45. European Heritage Alliance 3.3
  46. European Mozart Ways
  47. EUYO - European Union Youth Orchestra
  48. Eurozine - European Network of Cultural Journals
  49. EWC - European Writers’ Council
  50. FEDEC - European Federation of Professional Circus Schools
  51. FEP - Federation of European Publishers
  52. FERA - Federation of European Film Directors
  53. FIA - International Federation of Actors
  54. FIAD - International Federation of Film Distributors’ Associations
  55. FIAPF - International Federation of Film Producers Association
  56. FIM - International Federation of Musicians
  57. FSE - The Federation of Screenwriters in Europe
  58. GESAC - European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers
  59. gigmit
  60. IAMIC - International Association of Music Information Centres
  61. IAO - International Artist Organisation of Music
  62. ICMP - International Confederation of Music Publishers
  63. ICOMOS - the International Council on Monuments and Sites
  64. IETM - International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts
  65. IFPI - International Federation of the Phonographic Industry
  66. IMPALA - Independent Music Companies Association
  67. IMPF - Independent Music Publishers International Forum
  68. IMMF - International music managers forum
  69. IMZ International Music + Media Centre
  70. INES - Innovation Network of European Showcase Festivals
  71. IN SITU - European Platform for Artistic Creation in Public Space
  72. Interpret Europe
  73. ISFE - The Interactive Software Federation Europe
  74. IVF - International Video Federation
  75. JM International
  76. Live DMA - European Network for Live Music Associations
  77. Liveurope - The Live Music Platform for New European Talent
  78. Mad’in Europe
  79. MCA - Michael Culture Association
  80. NEMO - Network of European Museum Organisations
  81. On the Move
  82. Pearle*- Live Performance Europe
  83. REMA - European Early Music Network
  84. SAA -Society of Audiovisual Authors
  85. SEE Network - South East European Network
  86. SHAPE platform
  87. Sistema Europe
  88. TEH - Trans Europe Halles
  89. UNIC - International Union of Cinemas
  90. UNIMEI - UNI - Media, Entertainment & Arts

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