AEC signs open letter for a stronger culture budget in AgoraEU

The AEC has joined more than 70 cultural organisations, networks and institutions from across Europe in signing an open letter addressed to the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. The letter concerns the future of Creative Europe within the next long-term EU budget and calls for a more ambitious allocation for culture in the new AgoraEU programme.

Creative Europe is the EU’s only funding instrument dedicated to culture. Under the current proposal for the 2028 to 2034 period, the Culture strand of AgoraEU would receive €1.8 billion, or around €260 million per year. This amounts to nine cents for every hundred euros spent in the next EU budget.

Ahead of the budget negotiations, the signatories call for:

  • at least 25% of the AgoraEU programme to be allocated to its cultural component, taking the European Parliament’s proposal of €10.72 billion for AgoraEU as a baseline rather than a ceiling;
  • an autonomous and visible culture strand with its own budget line, ensuring that funding for culture cannot be redirected elsewhere;
  • fair remuneration and social security for all those working on AgoraEU projects, in line with the upcoming EU Artists’ Charter;
  • simpler and more accessible funding procedures, including structural operating grants and two-stage application processes;
  • a people-centred approach to international cultural cooperation, allowing project holders to involve participants from third countries where their contribution is relevant.

The letter follows the Joint Declaration “Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe”, recently signed by the Presidents of the three EU institutions, which recognises cultural diversity as fundamental to European values and identity. The signatories now ask the institutions to match this commitment with adequate funding.

For higher music education, the outcome of these negotiations matters directly. Creative Europe funding has enabled conservatoires and their networks to cooperate across borders, develop joint projects and support young musicians at the start of their careers. A well-funded culture strand in AgoraEU is a condition for this work to continue.

The full open letter is available here. Organisations from the cultural and creative sectors that wish to add their name can still sign the letter.