Advocacy

ECF advocates for an inclusive, democratic, open and creative Europe, and builds bridges between cultural practice and policy.

ECF fosters cultural policy development and the cultural sector’s role in advancing the development of our societies and communities. We campaign and run advocacy activities to influence policy development from the local to European level.

Making an impact

We advocate for the recognition of culture as a key contributor to the European project. With the economic crisis dominating current debates across Europe, culture is not among the political priorities. ECF believes that it is crucial to cement, nurture and push for the value of democracy, human rights and diversity through culture as a fundamental basis for better understanding throughout wider Europe.

  • We connect policy and practice – ensuring our activities are catalysts for artistic and cultural expression and also make a concrete contribution to European cultural policies.
  • We advocate and work in partnership for strengthened and sustainable links between the EU and its neighbouring countries.
  • We support individuals to play a leading role in policy making process in their countries.

Current campaigns

The Next European

More Europe is a public/private initiative that reinforces the role of culture in the EU’s external relations. ECF is part of an alliance of national cultural institutes and independent foundations that call for a structural integration of culture within the EU’s foreign policy. Last September we organised an event with Alexander Rinnooy Kan, Andrew Senior, Marietje Schaake and Charles Esche reflecting on topics connected to 'Beyond markets: culture and creative industries in the EU’s external relations', in Amsterdam. The debate brought together high-level policy-makers, artists, creative entrepreneurs, cultural operators and journalists to share knowledge and inspiration, models and practices about how to connect cultural diplomacy priorities, economic interests and socio-cultural values in a meaningful and effective way in a changing global environment. The More Europe Amsterdam debate was organised by the ECF, with the support of SICA and EUNIC NL.

Our reaction to the EU proposal for the Creative Europe programme

Read our response to the EU’s Creative Europe programme proposal - the framework programme for culture, media and creativity for the next EU budgetary perspective (2014-2020). We call on EU Member States and the European Parliament to endorse Creative Europe as a key EU instrument to balance economic and cultural values in Europe. Creative Europe must be an example for Member States, for candidate countries and for the EU neighbours of effective investment in their future, offering a long term vision for socio-economic and cultural development.

Culture Feeds Us

We campaign with partners on different issues connected to the cultural sector. These campaigns contribute to advancing the European Agenda for Culture, which is founded on three priorities: diversity and dialogue; culture as a catalyst for creativity; and culture as a key component in international relations.

Building 2014-2020

ECF is the strategic partner of the we are more campaign, which is led by Culture Action Europe. The campaign aims to strengthen the position of culture in the next European Union policy period 2014-2020. You can play your part by signing up for the manifesto. Be a change-maker and support culture!

 

We advocate through our activities as well

  • Our European Neighbourhood Programme advocates for a more inclusive Europe, connecting civic actors to contribute to cultural policy development in their countries, as well as contribute to the EU’s European Neighbourhood policy.

Want to learn more about this – try out the following media channels.
Euractive blog or numerous European newspapers including Eurozine or Presseurop.