On the Move

Brainstorming Report: ‘Culture and Creative Sectors and Industries driving Green Transition and facing the Energy Crisis’

On the Move — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 07:14:30 +0000

The European Green Deal highlights the importance of the cultural sector in the implementation of specific and systematic efforts towards carbon neutrality and climate resilience across Europe by 2050. Two dimensions of the involvement of Culture and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI) in the green transition are evident: the cultural sector itself must modify the ways culture is produced, since cultural activities and creative industries are among the most energy intensive industries; and the cultural sector, if adequately and consistently supported, can engage and inspire people to imagine and co-create a viable, low carbon, just and sustainable future.

Culture is a catalyst, a driving force towards progress. A financially healthy cultural sector could become a vector in Europe, for the creation of a green vision that could set the foundations for the healing of the planet. Europe has an opportunity to put culture and the creative industries at the core of its competitiveness and its leadership in just transition and transformation to sustainability.

This Brainstorming Report recommends that the European Commission introduce new institutional forms of support and funding structures to empower CCSI to do what it can do best: to break with tradition and expectation, break rules, habits and practices, replacing them with new perspectives and forms. CCSI needs courageous, competent funding and policy enablement to be able to offer the courageous cultural interventions that a complex, multi-dimensional strategy such as the European Green Deal needs.

The European Commission Structured Dialogue platform Voices of Culture invited participants from 35 organisations, selected through an Open Call from the relevant sectors across Europe, to brainstorm over two days – 15 and 16 June 2023 – in Tartu, Estonia, in order to collect insights, experiences, and recommendations on this topic from civil society. The findings represented in the Brainstorming Report reveal a wealth of European initiatives to support the greening of CCSI and present a number of recommendations to build on and extend the effectiveness of those initiatives. The report is aimed at both cultural practitioners on local and national levels, and policy makers, providing both with useful tools and recommendations for their work. The report features a comprehensive summary section, providing an overview of the main points of each chapter.

Three members of On the Move were part of the brainstorming meeting in Tartu and contributed to this report: the European Music Council, Trans Europe Halles and The Green Room.

The outcomes were presented and discussed with the European Commission (EC) on 6 September 2023. It is now published and shared with practitioners and stakeholders on local, national and EU levels.

Original post on the website of On the Move: https://on-the-move.org/resources/library/brainstorming-report-culture-and-creative-sectors-and-industries-driving-green

Voices of Culture: Brainstorming Meeting on the Green Transition and Energy Crisis (Estonia)

On the Move — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 15:01:02 +0000

Voices of Culture, the platform for dialogue offered to civil society by the European Commission, is inviting interested organisations from EU member states to apply to participate in the upcoming topic on Culture and Creative Sectors and Industries driving Green Transition and facing the Energy Crisis. This fourth Voices of Culture topic 2021-2023 will reflect on the state of the art and generate recommendations for policy and actions for decision-makers on this topic.

Successful applicants will be invited to a brainstorming meeting in the European Capital of Culture 2024, Tartu in Estonia, on 15 and 16 June 2023. The meeting will be in person in Tartu only.

Why Tartu? Tartu has been selected for the European Commission’s mission 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030 and is moving towards climate neutrality. With the artistic concept for the Tartu European Capital of Culture 2024 being ‘Arts of Survival’ these initiatives make Tartu a most inspiring destination for this specific Voices of Culture topic.

The call is open to representatives of the cultural and creative sectors and other relevant sectors (professional organisations, cultural institutions, non-governmental organisations, European networks, foundations, think tanks, private organisations, etc.) with relevant expertise on the topic Culture and Creative Sectors and Industries driving Green Transition and facing the Energy Crisis.

Organisations applying must be based in one of the 27 EU Member States.

Voices Of Culture covers flights/train tickets, up to two night’s accommodation in Tartu incl. breakfast. Lunch will be provided on the 15 and 16 June. Other meals and airport transfer will be covered by max 2x €30 per diem per day depending on whether you stay one or two nights.

Deadline: 3 May 2023

More info and apply: https://voicesofculture.eu/2023/04/06/culture-and-creative-sectors-and-industries-driving-green-transition-and-facing-the-energy-crisis/

Original post on the website of On the Move: https://on-the-move.org/news/voices-culture-brainstorming-meeting-green-transition-and-energy-crisis-estonia

International Cultural Relations

On the Move — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 08:04:26 +0000

In a context informed by the increasing geopolitical tussle, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, experiences and traumas of the Covid-19 pandemic and broader economic, political, social and technological change, the practices and the very paradigm of global international cultural relations (ICR) must be constantly evaluated. The stakeholders of ICR, ranging from the state to the individual and including cultural and creative sector civil society organisations (CSOs) and cultural actors, have both a role to play and at the same time must hold themselves and others accountable for creating the space and time to develop more sustainable, accessible, equitable and inclusive ICR.

This document represents a collection of topics, recommendations, tangible steps and project ideas drawn from the Voices of Culture Structured Dialogue on ICR in February 2022. Four considerations – equity, space, access and time – have been used to address complex topics in ICR. They enhance, within this framework, a more inclusive approach and bring new voices into the co-design of ICR activities and the exploring of funding mechanisms. While avoiding reinventing the wheel, the discussions gave space to share knowledge, time to read and learn from others, and an understanding of the gaps in information, knowledge and perspectives.

Written and edited by independent expert Sana Ouchtati, the report contains the input of over 40 stakeholders in the field of International Cultural Relations. On the Move was one of the 40 stakeholders involved in the process of producing this report.

Original post on the website of On the Move: https://on-the-move.org/resources/library/international-cultural-relations

Voices of Culture: Brainstorming Meeting on Youth, Mental Health and Culture (Belgium)

On the Move — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 13:38:32 +0000

The third topic of Voices of Culture 2021 – 2023 will generate project ideas and policy recommendations for the cultural and creative sectors and decision-makers on the topic of the role of the cultural and creative sectors in improving mental health of young people.

More than one in six people across EU countries had a mental health problem in 2016, well before the pandemic. ‘Mental health problems cover a wide range of illnesses, including disorders such as mild or moderate anxiety and depression, drug and alcohol use disorders, and severe disorders such as severe depression, bipolar disorders, and schizophrenia’ (OECD/EU 2018). Mental health problems can be caused or aggravated by behavioural and environmental factors.

Worldwide and in the EU, there are numerous cultural and creative projects that address at different levels the mental health and wellbeing of young people, in terms of promotion, prevention, treatment, and management.

The recent scoping review promoted by WHO acknowledges that the aesthetic and emotional components of arts activities can provide opportunities for emotional expression, emotion regulation – intrinsic to how we manage our mental health – and stress reduction. Evidence is also abundant on the preventive benefits of arts engagement in relation to mental health. The Report shows how playing and listening to music, dancing, art and visiting cultural sites are all associated with stress management and prevention, lower levels of biological stress in daily life and lower daily anxiety. Cultural participation can also help to reduce the risk of developing mental illness such as depression in adolescence. Participating in arts activities can build self-esteem, self-acceptance, confidence, and self-worth, which are protective against mental illness.

The call is open to representatives of the cultural and creative sectors and other relevant sectors (professional organisations, cultural institutions, non-governmental organisations, European networks, foundations, private organisations, etc.) with relevant expertise on the topic Youth, Mental Health and Culture who would like to contribute to discussions with the European Commission. Organisations applying must be based in one of the 27 EU Member States.

The Brainstorming meeting for the topic will take place at the Goethe-Institut Brussels 4-5 October 2022. Voices Of Culture will cover participant’s travel expenses.

Deadline: 13 July 2022

More info and apply: https://voicesofculture.eu/2022/06/17/call-for-applications-the-role-of-cultural-and-creactive-sectors-in-improving-mental-health-of-the-youth/

Original post on the website of On the Move: https://on-the-move.org/news/voices-culture-brainstorming-meeting-youth-mental-health-and-culture-belgium

Status and Working Conditions for Artists, Cultural and Creative Professionals

On the Move — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 07:39:18 +0000

The Status and Working Conditions for Artists, Cultural and Creative Professionals report is the result of a brainstorming meeting organised by Voices of Culture on 27-28 April 2021. It was presented to the European Commission in a Dialogue Meeting on 29 June 2021.

Among chapters on the legal status of artists, their financial situations (encompassing fair pay, collective bargaining, intellectual property, etc.), and research and lifelong learning, there is also a chapter dedicated to mobility.

Recently, artists, cultural and creative workers have been deprived of exchange opportunities, inspiration, learning and ability to bring their cultural and creative content and experiences to audiences. Thus, return to mobility for artists, cultural and creative workers will be an essential element for post-pandemic recovery. The pandemic has not only halted almost all international travels, it has also led to the suspension of funds for touring and individual mobility of all sorts.

Mobility is a central aspect of artistic practice. Whereas creativity is used to open up new perspectives and create impulses, mental and spatial mobility is fundamental. The gathering and processing of new impressions, the exchange with foreign cultures and the continuous shifting of one’s own point of view and perspective have always been part of artistic work. Mobility can also be an important factor in contributing to a continuous income for artists, cultural and creative workers and organisations, especially in countries with smaller internal markets for the arts.

Mobility of artists and cultural professionals is essential, but the pandemic has almost brought it to a complete standstill. It has, however, also created time and space to reflect on how mobility of artists and cultural professionals intersects with acute issues such as climate change, equity, well-being, and artistic development. It is time to reflect on the infrastructure, systems and policies that affect cultural mobility and through which artist mobility is supported. There is an evident urge in the sector to rethink mobility in more sustainable terms. Sustainability is understood in a holistic way: not only ecological, but also artistic, economic, and human sustainability - with all these aspects being closely interconnected.

For more information and opportunities related to green mobility, you can also check the GALA Funding Guide for Arts and Culture Projects Related to Environmental Sustainability.

Original post on the website of On the Move: https://on-the-move.org/resources/library/status-and-working-conditions-artists-cultural-and-creative-professionals

Voices of Culture: Status and Working Conditions of Artists and Cultural and Creative Professionals

On the Move — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 16:02:53 +0000

Voices of Culture provides a framework for discussions between cultural stakeholders and the European Commission. The fourth topic of Voices of Culture 2019 – 2021 will ask 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?

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.

Voices for Culture seeks applications for a digital Brainstorming Meeting on 27 & 28 April 2021 and for a Dialogue Meeting in Brussels on the 29 June 2021 (digital if necessary) to share 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 will write a Brainstorming Report after the Brainstorming Meeting. In this report, the results of the discussion between participants at the Brainstorming Meeting will be expressed. This report will then be presented by participants to the European Commission at the Dialogue Meeting.

The call is 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 of 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.

Deadline: 21 February 2021

More info and apply: https://voicesofculture.eu/2021/01/25/status-and-working-conditions-of-artists-and-cultural-and-creative-professionals/

Original post on the website of On the Move: https://on-the-move.org/news/voices-culture-status-and-working-conditions-artists-and-cultural-and-creative-professionals

Voices of Culture > Culture and the Sustainable Development Goals: Challenges and Opportunities

On the Move — Sun, 18 Oct 2020 07:50:44 +0000

Voices of Culture provides a framework for discussions between cultural stakeholders and the European Commission. The third topic of Voices of Culture 2019 – 2021 will ask questions about the challenges and opportunities for culture and the sustainable development goals. How can new priorities, policies, actions and funding streams better address this issue?

The United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a 15-year global framework. It is centred on an ambitious set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 169 targets and over 230 indicators. The SDGs address all UN Member States and the European Union. They address governments, civil society and the private sector. And they include culture.

For cultural organisations, the Sustainable Development Goals create both challenges and opportunities. The main challenge is how to ensure the effective contribution of culture to the global policy agenda. The main opportunities lie in demonstrating culture’s importance to society, and supporting advocacy.

The EU and its Member States are committed to implementing the 2030 Agenda. In November 2019, the Council amended its Work Programme for Culture to prioritise the SDGs, and invited the Commission to prepare an action plan on the cultural dimension of sustainable development. In September 2020 senior officials of EU foreign and culture ministries discussed the issue.

To contribute to its reflection on culture and the Sustainable Development Goals the European Commission has asked Voices of Culture to organise a conversation among stakeholders, and they are now calling for applications from potential participants.

Successful applicants will be invited to a digital Brainstorming Meeting taking place 2-3 December 2020 and to a Dialogue Meeting on the 11 February 2021 to share their input on five suggested areas of discussion: Education, Growth and Employment, Sustainable Communities, Climate Action, and Freedom of Expression.

Deadline: 11 October 2020

More info and apply: https://voicesofculture.eu/2020/09/21/culture-and-the-sustainable-development-goals-challenges-and-opportunities

Original post on the website of On the Move: https://on-the-move.org/news/voices-culture-culture-and-sustainable-development-goals-challenges-and-opportunities