Ask, pay, trust the artist

Written by Natalie Giorgadze, General Director, Culture Action Europe

The importance of culture and the arts as a means of engaging with the world becomes particularly evident during times of rapid change and global uncertainty. Far from being mere reflections of society, they serve as essential tools for understanding and shaping it. As American poet and critic Ezra Pound once remarked, “Artists are the antennae of the race, but the bullet-headed many will never learn to trust their great artists.” Indeed, artists possess a unique ability to detect structural problems within society. At the same time, it is through culture and the arts – alongside the creative experimentation of artists and cultural workers – that alternative futures are envisioned and brought to life.

Culture enriches our lives in so many ways – including preparing societies to lead transformative change while helping to absorb the shocks of crisis and navigate challenging situations: ultimately fostering more resilience. The CHANGEMAKERS exhibition that Culture Action Europe (CAE) inaugurated together with the European Parliament in November, exemplifies how cultural participation promotes democratic engagement, preparing communities to navigate the complexities of our times.

At CAE, we often encounter the argument that culture only becomes important once basic needs are fulfilled. To this, we respond: culture is in itself a basic need. It is not an afterthought or a luxury; it is integral to human existence. Culture is a fundamental human right, enshrined in the principles that underpin our democratic societies. Without culture, our ability to connect, empathise, and imagine alternative futures is diminished. Far from being secondary, culture is foundational to the human experience.

Cultural Democracy and Leadership are central to CAE’s mission. We pose critical questions to ourselves and our partners: How can the cultural sector ensure the plurality of voices leaving no one behind? What kind of leadership is required to amplify the sector’s transformative power? Through projects like Amplify: Make the Future of Europe Yours and Pop the Vote: Culture on the Ballot!, supported by the European Parliament, we have made significant steps in addressing these questions.

These initiatives created platforms for underrepresented communities and young artists, ensuring their voices resonated within European institutions and beyond. Pop the Vote, in particular, became a vibrant example of “artivism” – activism expressed through art – demonstrating how culture can be a dynamic force in shaping political discussions. The cohort of young artists that the Pop the Vote project brought together has opened fresh perspectives, reinvigorating Culture Action Europe’s advocacy. This focus on inter-generational exchange will take centre stage at our upcoming BEYOND 2025 conference in Turin. 

Culture can only foster resilience if it is resilient itself.

CAE’s State of Culture report launched recently, offers a vision for a strong and independent policy framework – a supportive scaffolding for culture – that recognises it as an essential pillar of society. This framework is built on the core principles of trust, autonomy, and freedom of artistic expression, all of which are crucial for cultivating a thriving cultural ecosystem.

State of Culture also offers clear calls to action:

• Ask the Artist: Engage artists and cultural practitioners in high-level policy debates, ensuring their insights are taken into account.
• Pay the Artist: Improve working and living conditions in the cultural sector, recognising the indispensable value of their contributions.
• Trust the Artist: Embrace arts-based methodologies to address complex societal challenges.

Because it’s only under these conditions that culture can truly thrive!

As we look ahead, CAE is committed to collaborating with new members of the European Parliament and the incoming European Commission. Together, we can place culture – and people within the sector, artists, cultural workers –  at the heart of the future of Europe.

Because when we invest in and trust the arts, we are not only nurturing creativity – we are laying the foundation for a stronger, more resilient society.