“Europe’s rich and varied cultural tapestry is part of our shared European identity and values. The cultural and creative industries are also amongst the EU’s most dynamic and competitive industries. We need a more strategic policy approach to culture, embedding it in our overarching policy goals, ensuring it becomes more accessible for all.
You should develop a new Culture Compass, an overarching strategic framework to guide and harness the multiple dimensions of culture.
As part of this, I would like you to focus on improving working conditions of artists and cultural professionals and unlocking the competitiveness potential of the cultural and creative industries. You should also work closely with the Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy in developing an AI strategy for cultural and creative industries.”
These are the words contained in the mission letter from President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport Glenn Micaleff which outlines the most important priorities of the new EU Commission in the field of culture for the coming years.
Although it is not explicitly stated, it is expected that the Culture Compass will replace the current Work plan for Culture, which expires in 2026. Consequently, the Compass will be crucial for the development of the instruments that the EU has at its disposal in the cultural field.
Even if both the cultural and educational sectors fall under the competence of the nation-states, the major EU funding programs – Creative Europe, Erasmus, and Horizon – have proven to be highly significant in bringing European countries closer together and in supporting the exchange of knowledge, people, and cultural expressions.
The dialogue on the Culture Compass was launched on February 4 at a major event at Bozar in Brussels hosted by Culture Action Europe and its partners under the headline Cultural Deal for Europe – Annual Policy Conversation, where AEC was also present.
Commissioner Glenn Micaleff was in attendance and stated, among other things:
“Culture is not just an industry . it holds an intrinsic value that shapes our identity, resilience, and shared future. The Culture Compass reflects the multiple dimensions of culture and heritage, and we should aspire to ensure that its transversal values are embedded across all European strategies.”
The Commissioner emphasised that the Compass should be developed in dialogue with the entire sector. While there is no finalised timeline, cultural sector organisations perceive that their input should be ready before the summer break.
Against this backdrop, the European Music Council had pre-emptively convened a roundtable the day after the event at Bozar. A broad range of music sector organisations, including the AEC, gathered to discuss how collaboration can be organised to define a compelling vision for a multifaceted music landscape in the coming years.
AEC looks forward to contributing to the Cultural Compass, advocating for artistic freedom, diversity, inclusion, and excellence in music education. The Cultural Deal for Europe requires strong investment, and we are committed to this collective effort.
