What is it about?

The fourth topic of Voices of Culture 2019 – 2021 asked questions about the challenges and opportunities for the status and working conditions of artists and cultural and creative professionals. How can new priorities, policies, actions and funding streams better address this issue?  

Why is it important?

Pre-COVID-19, the cultural and creative sectors were already characterised by fragile working practices. A fragmented organisation of creative value chains, often project-based and precarious work, non-profit character of many activities and (often not well-remunerated) IP-based revenue and income models are only a few of the elements contributing to this.

The COVID-19 crisis is causing immense losses in revenue opportunities and possibilities to perform art and cultural activities, with the more fragile players suffering the most. Longer-term effects relate to changes in cultural demand and engagement, the need for skills to cope with the new situation, risks of exacerbation of inequalities within the sector, brain drain from the sector and impoverishment of the diversity of expression.

In order to strengthen the sectors, it is essential to keep developing sustainable business models and to work on building an ecosystem that ensures decent living and working conditions for artists and cultural and creative professionals.

For a more detailed overview of the topic, please read the framework paper by our topic expert Joost Heinsius.

How did we do it?

Successful applicants were invited to a digital Brainstorming Meeting on the 27.04.2021 – 28.04.2021 and to a Dialogue Meeting in Brussels on the 29.06.2021 (digital if necessary) to share their input on several areas of discussion:

• Income for artists and cultural and creative professionals, artists’ status 
• Mobility of artists and other cultural and creative professionals
• Artistic freedom and freedom of expression

Voices of Culture participants wrote a Brainstorming Report after the Brainstorming Meeting. In this report, the results of the discussion between participants at the Brainstorming Meeting were expressed. This report was then presented by participants to the European Commission at the Dialogue Meeting.

Please be aware that Voices of Culture is a platform for dialogue between the cultural sector and the European Commission provided by the European Commission. The Voices of Culture team only facilitates this process and is not responsible for writing the Brainstorming Report. This responsibility lies with participants. 

When did it happen?

The Brainstorming meeting for the topic took place digitally on the 27th & 28th of April 2021.

The Dialogue meeting for this topic took place on the 29th of June 2021.

Who participated?

The call was open to representatives of the cultural and creative sectors (professional organisations, cultural institutions, non-governmental organisations, European networks, foundations, private organisations, etc.) with relevant expertise on the topic Status and Working Conditions of Artists and Cultural and Creative Professionals who would like to contribute to discussions with the European Commission. Organisations applying must be from one of the 27 EU Member States.

Through an open call for applications, the following organizations were selected to participate in the topic:

• Andea Association Nationale des Ecoles Supérieures d’Art
• Art Centre KulttuuriKauppila
• Art Workers Italia
• Asociatia INDIERO
• Associação Espetáculo
• Association des réalisateur.rice.s francophones
• AudioVisual Translators Europe
• CENA-STE
• City of Bologna – Incredibol! Project
• City of Wrocław, Cultural Division
• Cluj Cultural Centre
• Cooperactivist Action
• Cultural Observatory of Piedmont (Fitzcarraldo Foundation)
• Culture Action Europe
• Culture Zone Wrocław
• Cultuurloket
• Erasmus University Rotterdam
• European Composer and Songwriter Alliance
• European Music Council
• European Visual Artists
• Federation of European Tourist Guide Associations
• Federation of European Screen Directors
• Foundation ARTeria
• Freemuse
• Fundación Alternativas/Observatory of Culture and Communication
• GDA Foundation
• IAA Europe
• IETM – International network for contemporary performing arts
• IFAPS
• Institut national du patrimoine
• International Federation of Actors
• International Federation of Musicians
• Janacek Academy of Performing Arts
• Kunststiftung des Landes Sachsen-Anhalt
• La Guilde des auteurs réalisateurs de documentaires et de reportages
• Pearle*-Live Performance Europe
• Platform ACCT
• Plovdiv 2019 Municipal Foundation
• Pro Progressione
• Roberto Cimetta Fund
• Royal Conservatoire Antwerp
• Salzburg Global Seminar
• Sisters of Music
• Society of Audiovisual Authors
• The Artists’ Association of Finland + Forum Artis Finland + IAA Europe
• Trans Europe Halles
• UNI Global Union – media, entertainment & arts

How to apply?

IMPORTANT: Please read this framework paper by Joost Heinsius before filling in the application.

The Call for Applications is now closed.

Application deadline: 21^st of February 2021

Announcement of results: 08^th of March 2021