Next European Commissioner for Culture

Ahead of the upcoming parliamentary hearings and the appointment of European Commissioners, Culture Action Europe urges EU decision-makers, including the President of the European Commission and Members of the European Parliament, to support a committed pro-European Commissioner responsible for culture.

As a voice of numerous cultural organisations and networks across Europe, Culture Action Europe believes it is crucial for the new Commissioner for Culture to uphold values such as artistic freedom, cultural democracy, civil society dialogue, cultural mobility and exchange, and international cooperation.

With these principles in mind, Culture Action Europe, along with the Cultural Deal for Europe partners, has previously drafted a proposed mission letter to the next Commissioner responsible for culture. This letter outlines the primary priorities and principles for the portfolio. 

Culture Action Europe advocates for a comprehensive strategic framework for Europe’s cultural policy, which should address the precarious working conditions of artists, secure EU funding for culture, favour artists’ rights in the implementation of EU artificial intelligence policies, and safeguard artistic freedom.

We are alarmed by the threats to artistic freedom and the use of culture to spread anti-democratic narratives in several European countries. ‘Democracy is our common treasure. It is the forum in which our differences and disagreements can be voiced. And it is as vital as it is fragile. For a very long time, we took it for granted,’ stated Madam President of the European Commission in her address on July 18, 2024. 

Authoritarian regimes have fully exploited the potential of culture for propaganda; it is high time that democratic European leadership recognised the strategic role of cultural policy in the European project and reflected it in institutional arrangements and portfolio distributions. Culture forms the bedrock of freedom, civil society, justice, resilience, and human rights. The appointment of the next European Commissioner for Culture will indicate the EU’s level of commitment—or lack thereof—to these ideals.