Cultural Participation | Towards the Culture Compass: A Sector Blueprint

This briefing on Access to Cultural Participation (Chapter 7) was edited and coordinated by ENCC and forms part of 10 policy briefings in the discussion paper ‘Towards the Culture Compass: A Sector Blueprint‘ published by Culture Action Europe. Read the Sector Blueprint to discover other briefings on:

• Artistic Freedom
• Working Conditions
• Artistic Research, Culture and Innovation
• International Cultural Relations
• Culture and Health and Well-Being
• Culture and Sustainability
• Access to Culture and Arts Education
• Culture and Security
• Culture and Digital

download the sector blueprint

Context

In 2021, under the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Porto Santo Charter was adopted. Its core idea is cultural democracy: moving beyond mere access (‘democratisation of culture’) to actively empowering people to participate, co-create, and shape cultural life as a shared civic right (‘cultural citizenship’).

Participation in culture takes many forms: from creating, performing, producing, governing, curating, volunteering, donating, learning, mentoring to more receptive ways like attending, watching, or listening. Generally speaking, cultural participation aims to enable individuals and communities to engage with, contribute to and benefit from cultural life. As stated in the European Commission’s report ‘Culture and Democracy: the evidence, ’ citizens who participate in cultural activities are much more likely to engage in civic and democratic life.

Despite the proven societal benefits of cultural participation—from strengthening democracy and social cohesion to promoting well-being—many of the most impactful cultural practices remain underfinanced or undervalued. Structural inequalities, bureaucratic obstacles or top-down models limit the accessibility and transformative potential of culture.

Proposals

• Recognise cultural democracy, including participatory arts, as a driver of imagination and foresight in EU policies (including initiatives like the New European Bauhaus, the Climate Pact and EU Youth Platforms). Participatory art is not only about access or inclusion; it is a way to co-create future narratives and mobilise imagination, collective memory and public space.
• Bridge structural societal divides by creating a structured dialogue between the European institutions, such as the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture of the European Commission and the Culture and Education Committee of the European Parliament, and the cultural sector. Ensure representation from both Creative Europe-funded networks and organisations without such funding.
• Strengthen mechanisms that support inclusive and democratic decision-making in the sector. Prioritise funding for representative membership organisations that actively promote institutionalised democratic processes such as inclusive governance structures with a focus on young people and underrepresented communities.
• Create and protect safe spaces that promote respect, free expression, and open dialogue. Support practical tools like sample protocols, codes of conduct, and memoranda of understanding for such spaces. Develop EU-wide typologies and models for safe spaces and community mediators, including sustainable funding based on local needs. In small towns and rural areas, a safe space could be a repurposed classroom, library, or natural site.
• Develop long-term support mechanisms to help cultural organisations consistently engage diverse and inclusive audiences. Support inclusive audience development by funding cultural mediators and community connectors, especially from minority groups, as a regular part of participatory programmes.
• Acknowledge the specific role and skills of artists working in non-institutional, socially engaged contexts and invest in their professional development and recognition.
• Launch an EU-wide programme to build capacity for cultural participation. It could include mentoring, peer exchange, and training on how to participate in EU-funded projects. Invest in helping local organisations, especially those with limited time, knowledge, or access, develop their structures and gain opportunities to engage with EU programmes.
• Grassroots actors, non-formal practices and co-creation formats should be recognised and funded as central players in the cultural system complementary to established cultural institutions. Many of the most impactful cultural initiatives take place in community centres, voluntary arts groups, schools, libraries, etc.
• Improve existing regular surveys (Eurostat and national statistical institutes) to capture the intersection of cultural participation with socio-economic, well-being and civic engagement data. Data-driven policies need reliable data sources to sharpen solutions addressed to the multiple factors of social and cultural exclusion.
• Adopt the concept of Cultural Footprints in research and cultural practices to measure the societal impact of cultural participation in grassroots and community-based contexts and to capture inclusivity, sustainability, local engagement, and cross-border impact. A cultural footprint is the impact of public or private actions on a community’s capacity to create, produce, reproduce, transmit, and access its cultural and linguistic expressions, now and for future generations.
• Mainstream culture in other EU policies (e.g. culture and Green Deal, culture and well-being, culture in New European Bauhaus, etc.)—cultural participation thrives at the intersection with science, health, environment, education and social cohesion.
• Use clear, inclusive language that resonates with practitioners and communities in EU strategies and funding programmes. Support artistic and community-driven storytelling to turn buzzwords like ‘resilience’ and ‘innovation’ into real, lived experiences. Encourage co-creating narratives that include diverse voices across generations, regions, and minority groups.
• Position life-long cultural participation and cultural citizenship as a fundamental right and a driver of societal imagination and transformation.

Annex: Resources

1. Annotated Bibliography: Inclusion, SHIFT, 2022.
2. Ask, Pay, Trust the Artist — campaign, Culture Action Europe, 2025.
3. #BenefitsOfSinging — curated research database, European Choral Association.
4. Charter for Common Body/ies in Contemporary Circus & Outdoor Arts, Circostrada, 2024.
5. Charter for Diversity (Diverse Body/ies), Circostrada, 2024.
6. Convention de Faro sur la valeur du patrimoine culturel pour la société, Council of Europe, 2005.
7. Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, UNESCO, 2005.
8. Count Me In! Report on DEIAB in arts festivals, European Festivals Association, 2025.
9. Cultural Footprint — Erasmus+ project.
10. Culture and Democracy: the Evidence, European Commission, 2023.
11. Developing Education and Public Engagement in Museums — Guidelines, Network of European Museum Organisations, 2023.
12. Diversity & Inclusion in European Museums, Network of European Museum Organisations, 2025.
13. Ethical guideline: Key insights on LGBTQIA+ inclusion, Network of European Museum Organisations, 2024.
14. Eurobarometer: Cultural Access and Participation, European Commission, 2013.
15. Eurobarometer: Europeans’ Attitudes Towards Culture, European Commission, 2025.
16. European Agenda for Music: Education and Access to Music, European Music Council.
17. Fostering Dialogue in Divisive Times: A Guide for Museums Regarding Engagement with Community Forums on Climate Action, Network of European Museum Organisations, 2025.
18. Fribourg Declaration on Cultural Rights, University of Fribourg, 2007.
19. Just Sustainability from the Heart of Communities: The Transformative Power of Socio-Cultural Centres, European Network of Cultural Centres, 2024.
20. LGBTQIA+ Inclusion in European Museums: An Incomplete Guideline, Network of European Museum Organisations, 2024.
21. Living Together: Fostering Cultural Pluralism through the Arts, İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, 2018.
22. Livret pratique: Les valeurs des patrimoines pour la société, ACCR, 2024.
23. Pathways Programme, Live Music Now Scotland.
24. Porto Santo Charter. Culture and the Promotion of Democracy: Towards a European Cultural Citizenship, Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU, 2021.
25. Resources on Inclusion and Diversity in Performing Arts, Perform Europe, 2023.
26. SHIFT Inclusion Handbook, 2022.
27. TEH: Manifesto of Change — Cultural Transformation Movement, Trans Europe Halles, 2025.
28. TEH: Under Construction — Artistic Statement — Cultural Transformation Movement, Trans Europe Halles, 2024.
29. The Role of Outdoor Arts in Creative Placemaking: Transforming Communities and Spaces, Circostrada, 2024.
30. Voices of Culture: Brainstorming Reports, 2015–2023.

Culture Compass for Europe

The Culture Compass for Europe released by the European Commission in November 2025 outlines a new EU structured dialogue with cultural and creative stakeholders to track the progress of the Culture Compass, in addition to establishing an EU cultural data hub to collect and analyse cultural data and information and to monitor trends and developments.

The Culture Compass is accompanied by a draft Joint Declaration entitled “Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe” to be agreed upon and signed by the European Commission, European Parliament and the Council of the EU. The initial draft outlines access to culture as a fundamental pillar of democratic and inclusive societies, and also promotes the representation and participation of young people in cultural governance structures. It commits to:

• enhancing inclusive access to, participation in, enjoyment and benefit of culture and cultural heritage for everyone, especially younger generations;
• paying particular attention to the cultural rights of persons with disabilities, marginalised and disadvantaged groups, and people living in rural, remote or underserved areas; and
• promoting young people’s representation and participation in cultural governance structures.