News & Activities
EHfC | 14 Dec 13 | Brussels Conversations 2013
The Decisive Deal: the Brussels Conversations 2013 Discussed the Role of Culture in Europe’s Future
The European House for Culture, together with its co-organizers “A Soul for Europe” and the European Festivals Association (EFA), in partnership with the Access to Culture Platform, Marcel Hicter Association, ECSA – European Composer and Songwriter Alliance, ENCATC, European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC), and Felix Meritis, organised the Brussels Conversations 2013 on 14 December. It was the second of three events held in the run up to the 2014 European elections to discuss the role of culture in Europe’s future. Over 50 participants were hosted by De Munt/La Monnaie where the conversations set the key action points to be developed before the elections and presented to the elected leaders following the 2014 European elections.
Over the last 2 years, “A Soul for Europe” built a Cultural Coalition for a Citizens’ Europe (CCCE), a network of partner organisations and individuals working to create a Europe of citizens through one of Europe’s most valuable resource, its culture. In the lead-up to the Brussels Conversations 2013, participants were invited to give input on The Decisive Deal: A European Resolution on Culture, for Values, Democracy and Citizenship, a working document developed by “A Soul for Europe” and to think about its application and distribution for further discussion
The initial proposals are based on discussions with citizens that took place in 2012/13 across Europe. The most recent event on 29 November, the Amsterdam Conversations 2013 organised by Felix Meritis, focused on: how can we overcome the growing loss of trust in our democratic infrastructure and what Europe we want in the future?
During the Brussels Conversations, participants were asked to concentrate on two key questions to arrive at suggestion for their own agenda points to add:
- What concrete developments and changes would you propose for the political agenda of the EU relating to culture, values, democracy, and citizenship?
- What questions would you ask the political candidates in the run up to the 2014 elections?
Based on the outcomes of these discussions, “A Soul for Europe” and the Cultural Coalition for a Citizens’ Europe updated the proposal and will now develop 3 core concepts: 1. From Engaged Citizenship to Community Development, 2. Ensuring a Fundamental Commitment to Culture, and 3. Streamlining Cultural Competence.
Other important points raised that the European House for Culture and “A Soul for Europe” will continue to develop include:
- Broadening the Cultural Coalition to involve partners from such sectors as healthcare, education, justice, etc.
- Use the platform to promote 10 key successful projects that can be referenced across Europe
- Create an opportunity to meet with leading EU politicians to discuss cultural issues every 2 months
- And many more!
All content that the Cultural Coalition for a Citizens’ Europe has gathered served as the topics for the debate at the Berlin Conference 2014 on 3 March. To realize our goal of a cultural Europe of citizens and to create ties with the European Union at a time of important institutional changes in 2014, leaders from the European political parties were brought together in Berlin to discuss their visions for the future of Europe with Europe’s leading artists and intellectuals.
The Brussels Conversations 2013 was co-produced with “A Soul for Europe” and the European Festivals Association (EFA), in partnership with the Access to Culture Platform, Marcel Hicter Association,ECSA – European Composer and Songwriter Alliance,ENCATC, European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC), and Felix Meritis. The opening reception of the Brussels Conversations 2013 was hosted by de Buren. The Brussels Conversations 2013 was hosted by our partner in the event De Munt/La Monnaie.
