From Practice to Policy and Back: Advancing Cultural Democracy in Europe
This week, Culture Action Europe Secretary General Lars Ebert is in Seoul, South Korea, where he is contributing to the 10th World Summit on Arts and Culture, organised by the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA). Lars published a contribution to the summit’s discussion paper entitled “From Practice to Policy and Back: Advancing Cultural Democracy in Europe.” In it, he explores how cultural democracy can provide a critical framework for reshaping Europe’s cultural landscape in the face of increasing polarisation, shifting participation patterns, and democratic fatigue.
Lars’ piece offers a timely provocation: “While culture is foundational to democracy, it must itself be democratic to fulfil this essential role.” His argument is not just philosophical—it is urgently practical. From co-creative theatre projects in Brussels to civic engagement labs in Porto, his paper showcases how cultural institutions across Europe are experimenting with new governance models, participatory formats, and more equitable forms of decision-making. True participation, he writes, “goes beyond merely accepting an invitation… it’s about having the power to invite, set the agenda, imagine new possibilities.”