AEPO-ARTIS co-signs Letter To The European Commission On Behalf Of Europe’s Cultural And Creative Sectors:

Dear President von der Leyen,
Vice-President Schinas,
Commissioners Hahn, Gabriel, Breton,

Culture has always been a vibrant social resource, able to heal wounds in times of crisis. Culture carries tremendous intrinsic value and contributes significantly to the economy, with 4.2% of the EU GDP and 7.4 million jobs created. Culture is a vital component of the European integration and solidarity. It unites the European multitude of mentalities and histories in all their diversity, and shapes a common space for Europeans to develop a shared identity.

As our societies are going through an unprecedented turmoil, we call on the EU and its Member States to make sure that culture is placed at the core of each and every recovery plan, which aims at a sustainable, inclusive and future-looking revival of our social and economic life.

Cultural and creative sectors (CCSs) themselves are among the most seriously damaged by the pandemic. Cultural activities are being halted, millions of jobs are frozen or wiped out, micro and small businesses are on the brink of bankruptcy and many talents are forced to leave the sector altogether.

On top of that, we are at the beginning of a second wave in Europe that will undoubtedly increase the impact of the pandemic crisis on the CCSs.

This unprecedented uncertainty prevents the CCSs from bouncing back, devising viable short and mediumterm plans and imagining a different future. There is a risk that citizens will not find their vibrant cultural life back in the post-pandemic world. This would be a huge loss in terms of social cohesion, communities’ empowerment, individual well-being, and the economic revival of the EU.

While it has started addressing these concerns with some concrete measures in the past months, the European Commission also clearly included culture as one of the 14 priority ecosystems to repair, when presenting the recovery package for Europe, back in May. However, we regret that the European Commission has not integrated clear and strong references to culture in the “Guidance to Member States Recovery and Resilience Plans.” Now that the dialogue with the Member States on the design of their national recovery and resilience plans has kicked off, it is crucial that CCSs are fully included in the attainment of the main RRF objectives.

Therefore, we, the pan-European community of 110 networks and associations, call on the European Commission to encourage Member States to fully integrate culture in their national recovery and resilience plans, allocating at the very least 2″% of the RRF budgets to the CCSs, as called for by the European Parliament in its recent resolution on the “Cultural Recovery of Europe”.

This should be monitored and stimulated, inter alia, through the Commission’s assessment of the national recovery and resilience plans.

It is our common duty to preserve culture in these challenging times, and we hope you will do everything possible to safeguard the diversity, vibrancy and richness of Europe.

SIGNATORIES:
Amateo – Europe’s Network for Active Participation in Culture | Arty Farty | Association de Producteurs de Cinéma et de Télévision (Eurocinema) | Association des Centres Culturels de Rencontre (ACCR) | Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen (AEC) | Association of European Performers’ Organisations (AEPO-ARTIS) | Association of European Radios (AER) | b.creative network | Biennale des Jeunes Créateurs de l’Europe et de la Mediterranée (BJEM) | BOZAR – Centre for Fine Arts | Centre Européen de Musique (CEM) | Centre of the Picture Industry (CEPIC) | Circostrada – European Network for Circus and Street Arts | Coalitions Européennes pour la Diversité Culturelle (CEDC) | Confédération internationale des cinémas d’art et d’essai (CICAE) | Culture Action Europe (CAE) | De Concert! Fédération Internationale de Festivals | European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) | ELIA – globally connected European network of higher arts education | ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag) | EU National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) | Europa Cinemas | Europa Distribution – The European Network of Independent Film Publishers and Distributors | Europa Nostra | Europavox | Europe Jazz Network (EJN) | European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF) | European Arenas Association (EAA) | European Association for Music in Schools (EAMS) | European Association of Independent Music Companies (IMPALA) | European Audiovisual Production (CEPI) | European Children’s Film Association (ECFA) | European Choral Association – Europa Cantat (ECA-EC) | European Composer & Songwriter Alliance (ECSA) | European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO) | European Council of Associations of Literary Translators (CEATL) | European Creative Business Network (ECBN) | European Creative Hubs Network (ECHN) | European Cultural Foundation | European Dancehouse Network (EDN) | European Fashion Heritage Association (EFHA) | European Federation of Fortified Sites (EFFORTS) | European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) | European Federation of National Youth Orchestras (EFNYO) | European Festivals Association (EFA) | European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) | European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers (GESAC) | European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA) | European Music Council (EMC) | European Music Exporters Exchange (EMEE) | European Music School Union (EMU) | European network for live music associations (Live DMA) | European Network for Opera and Dance Education (RESEO) | European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC) | European Network on Cultural Management and Policy (ENCATC) | European Publishers Council (EPC) | European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH) | European Theatre Convention (ETC) | European Union of Music Competitions for Youth (EMCY) | Europeana Foundation | Europeana Network Association | Eurozine | Fédération européenne des écoles de cirque professionnelles (FEDEC) | Federation of European Publishers (FEP) | Federation of European Screen Directors (FERA) | Federation of Screenwriters in Europe | Future for Religious Heritage (FRH) | ICMP – The global voice of music publishing | IFPI – representing the recording industry worldwide | IN SITU, European platform for artistic creation in public space | Independent Music Publishers International Forum (IMPF) | Innovation Network of European Showcases (INES) | Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE) | International Artist Organisation of Music (IAO) | International Association of Art (IAA) Europe | International Association of Music Information Centres (IAMIC) | International Association of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centres (IAML) | International Federation of Actors (FIA) | International Federation of Film Distributors’ Associations (FIAD) |International Federation of Film Producers Association (FIAPF) | International Federation of Musicians (FIM) |International Music+Media Centre (IMZ) | International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts (IETM) | International Video Federation (IVF) | Jeunesses Musicales International (JMI) | Kids REGIO | Literature Across Frontiers (LAF) | Liveurope – the live music platform for new European talent | Michael Culture Association (MCA) | National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) | Network of European Museum Organisations (NEMO) | News Media Europe | Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture (NDCP) | On the Move | Opera Europa | Pearle* – Live Performance Europe | REMA – European Early Music Network | Res Artis – Worldwide Network of Arts Residencies | SHAPE platform | System Europe | Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques (SADC) | South East European (SEE) Heritage Network | The European Network for Professional Chamber Choirs (Tenso) | The International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO) | The Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA) | Trans Europe Halles (TEH) | UNI Global Union – media, entertainment & arts (UNI MEI) | Union Internationale de Cinémas (UNIC) | We are Europe | Yourope – The European Festival Association

The lettter in full is available here: Letter on the inclusion of culture in the RRF

Investing in Europe’s next generation by investing in culture

As the EU has started discussing the proposed recovery plan, 94 organisations from across Europe’s cultural and creative sectors are uniting their voices to alert EU leaders: our sector needs strong and systemic support measures to recover from this crisis.

As it is now well understood, the cultural and creative world is one of the first and hardest hit by the crisis. According to the Commission’s own estimates, some parts of our sector – which accounts for €509bn in value added to GDP and over 12 million full-time jobs – are expected to lose up to 80% of their turnover in the 2nd quarter of 2020.

We have a higher than average percentage of self-employed workers, freelancers, micro-businesses and youth employment, which makes us particularly vulnerable in times of crisis.

As the European economy is slowly restarting, it is far from business as usual. Cultural actors are gradually resuming their activities, but all have to implement strict safety rules which means they won’t be operating at full capacity for the foreseeable future and are therefore facing challenging economic decisions. From individual creators and creative workers all the way to big production and media companies, the whole value chain is impacted.

And yet the recovery package announced by the Commission on 27 May does not reflect the reality of the cultural and creative sector, despite the encouraging messages by the Commission and the strong position taken by the European Parliament.

The proposal on the table falls way short of our sector’s expectations:

• Despite being identified as one of 14 of the hardest hit ecosystems, there is neither a sector specific instrument for culture, nor a clear indication on whether or how we can benefit from different instruments. The section on REACT-EU in the Commission’s Communication1 refers to culture, but there is no guarantee that we will receive appropriate support.
• As for Creative Europe, the EU’s only programme specifically dedicated to the cultural and creative sec- tor, the Commission’s announcement is a missed opportunity and a real disappointment. Along with the budget dedicated to education and youth, the budget dedicated to culture is the only one to decrease compared to the Commission’s own 2018 proposal, and it is a far cry from the European parliament’s position2 . Quite ironic for a recovery plan named “Next Generation EU”.
• To bring the EU’s support for our sector to a level that is commensurate with its contribution to the EU’s economy and its citizens’ wellbeing, we call on Member States and the European Parliament:
• To push for a substantial increase of the Creative Europe budget. We fully support the European Parlia- ment’s proposal for a budget of €2.8bn.
• To guarantee that the entire sector can benefit appropriately from the recovery plan’s various instruments.

Let’s invest in culture to show the EU’s #NextGeneration that we really care about their future!

1. https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/communication-europe-moment-repair-prepare-next-generation.pdf
2 The European Commission is proposing €1.5bn for Creative Europe (€1.7 in 2018 prices) while it proposed 1.85bn in 2018 (€1.6bn in today’s prices).

AEPO ARTIS – Association of European Performers’ Organisations
AER – Association of European Radios
Animation Europe
BOZAR – Centre for Fine Arts Brussels
CALLIAS Foundation
CEDC – European Coalitions for Cultural Diversity
CEM – Centre Européen de Musique
CEPI – European Audiovisual Production
CEPIC – Centre of the Picture Industry
10.CICAE – International Confederation of Arthouse Cinemas 11.CIRCOSTRADA – European Network for Circus & Street Arts
12.De Concert!
13.EAS – European Association for Music in Schools
14.ECSA – European Composer and Songwriter Alliance
15.EDN – European Dancehouse Network
16.EFA – European Festivals Association
17.EFFORTS – The European Federation of Fortified Sites
18.EFJ – The European Federation of Journalists
19.EFNYO – European Federation of National Youth Orchestras
20.EFP – European Film Promotion
21.EGDF – European Games Developer Federation
22.EHTTA – European Historic Thermal Towns Association
23.EIBF – European and International Booksellers Federation
24.EJN – Europe Jazz Network
25.ELIA – Globally Connected European Network of Higher Arts Education 26.EMC – European Music Council
27.EMCY – European Union of Music Competitions for Youth
28.EMEE – European Music Exporters Exchange
29.EMMA – European Magazine Media Association
30.EMMA – European Music Managers Alliance
SIGNATORIES
31.EMU – The European Music School Union
32.ENCATC – European network on cultural management and cultural policy
33.ENCC – European Network of Cultural Centres
34.ENPA – European Newspaper Publishers Association
35.EOFed – European Orchestra Federation
36.EPC – European Publishers Council
37.ERIH – The European Route of Industrial Heritage
38.ESNS – Eurosonic Noorderslag
39.ETC – European Theatre Convention
40.Eurocinema
41.Europa Distribution – The European Network of Independent Film Publishers and Dis-
tributors
42.Europa International – the network of European sales agents
43.Europavox : music online media & festivals
44.ECA – European Choral Association – Europa Cantat
45.EVA – European Visual Artists
46.EWC – European Writers’ Council
47.FEDEC – European Federation for Professional Circus Schools
48.FERA – Federation of European Film Directors
49.FEP – Federation of European Publishers
50.FIA – International Federation of Actors
51.FIAD – The International Federation of Film Distributors’ Associations
52.FIAPF – International Federation of Film Producers Associations
53.FIM – International Federation of Musicians
54.FSE – Federation of Screenwriters in Europe
55.GESAC – European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers
56.GIGMIT
57.IAMIC – International Association of Music Information Centres
58.IAML – International Association of Music Libraries, Archives, and Documentation Cen-
tres, member of EMC
59.IAO – International Artist Organisation of Music
60.ICMP – The Global Voice of Music Publishing
61.IETM – International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts
62.IFJ – International Federation of Journalists
63.IFPI – International Federation of the Phonographic Industry
64.IFRRO – International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations 65.IGCAT – International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism 66.IMMF – International Music Managers Forum
67.IMPALA – The Independent Music Companies Association
68.IMPF – The Independent Music Publishers International Forum
69.IMZ – IMZ International Music + Media Centre
70.In-Situ – European Platform for Artistic Creation in Public Space
71.INES – Innovation Network of European Showcases
72.ISCM – International Society for Contemporary Music on behalf of the 73.ISFE – The Interactive Software Federation of Europe
74.IVF – International Video Federation
75.Live DMA – European network for live music venues & festivals 76.Liveurope – The live music platform for new European talent
77.KEA European Affairs
78.MCA – Michael Culture Association
79.NAMM – National Association of Music Merchants
80.NEMO – The Network of European Museum Organisations
81.News Media Europe
82.On the Move
83.Pearle* – Live Performance Europe
84.REMA – European Early Music Network
85.Res Artis – Worldwide Network of Arts Residencies
86.SAA – Society of Audiovisual Authors
87.SEEHN – South East European Heritage Network
88.SHAPE – Sound, Heterogeneous Art and Performance in Europe 89.Sistema Europe – The Sistema Europe Association
90.Tenso Network Europe
91.UNI MEI – UNI global union – media, entertainment & arts
92.UNIC – International Union of Cinemas
93.We Are Europe
94.Yourope – The European Festival Association

The joint letter is available here: Joint sector call – Investing in Europe’s next generation by investing in culture

Europe’s cultural and creative sectors call for ambitious EU budgetary measures to get through the COVID-19 crisis

Time to put words into action!

Europe’s cultural and creative sectors were among the first and hardest hit by the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. They will also be among the last. Across Europe, almost all cultural activities have been cancelled or postponed indefinitely, while venues and retailers have closed with disastrous consequences for all creators’ and cultural and creative professionals’ livelihoods, as well as the ecosystem as a whole. Millions of jobs are on the line.

In its Resolution on how to combat the COVID-19 crisis and its consequences, the European Parliament rightly underlines that the cultural and creative sectors “have been hit especially hard by the fallout from the COVID-19” and “calls for the EU and the Member States to provide support to the cultural and creative sectors as they play an important role for our economy and our social life and are severely affected by the current crisis”.

Commissioners, Ministers and MEPs are also regularly stressing the vital importance of protecting and supporting the cultural ecosystem and creators all over Europe, to ensure that they can continue to create and invest – for the enjoyment of all Europeans, both during and after the crisis.

So far, the EU has provided much-needed financial support to Member States to protect jobs, workers and businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic, but has failed to adequately address the specific needs of our sectors. The Cultural and Creative Sectors, which stand at €509bn in value added to GDP and over 12 million full-time jobs (7.5 % of the EU’s work force), must be considered as priority sectors and benefit from ambitious budgetary measures. Only a limited number of countries have introduced broad furlough compensation schemes while the majority of professionals working in the cultural and creative sectors were put on unpaid leave as very few employers have the means to continue paying salaries or compensation without state support. In addition, our sectors have a much higher than average percentage of self-employed workers with little to no access to social benefits who find themselves in extremely precarious situations as they are left without resources.

As the European Commission is due to propose a new long-term EU budget and recovery plan, it is now time to put words into action. The undersigned organisations from across Europe’s cultural and creative sectors are calling on the EU:

• To propose an ambitious budget for the future Creative Europe Programme 2021-2027 – the only EU framework Programme specifically dedicated to the cultural and creative sectors – which represents today a mere 0.15% of the overall EU Budget. The European Parliament’s proposal for a budget of €2.8bn should be considered the absolute minimum for a Programme commensurate with the sector’s contribution to the EU economy and wellbeing, and with its needs and challenges in these times of crisis.
• To ensure that the cultural and creative sectors, are included as priority sectors in the EU’s planned Recovery Fund, with sector specific funding. Our sectors are among the hardest hit, and our intercon- nected value-chains are fragile – if they are to get through the crisis, especially SMEs, urgent support is needed, including liquidity/cash flow measures leading into 2021.
• Boosting the EU’s loan guarantee facility for the cultural and creative sectors under the future Invest EU programme, with increased budget, guarantees and flexibility. Loan guarantee instruments have a demonstrated trigger effect on investment, which is urgently needed in these difficult economic times.
• To secure a strong budget for Horizon Europe’s new cluster “culture, creativity and inclusive society”. In light of their innovation-driven and risk-taking nature, Europe’s cultural and creative sectors should benefit from a strong budget under Horizon Europe.
• To ensure that EU funds, notably structural funds, reach the cultural and creative sectors swiftly and effectively.

   

• To ensure that a meaningful part of the EU funding is also deployed to support the livelihood of creators, creative workers and freelancers throughout this unprecedented crisis.

In these hard times, as the contribution of Europe’s cultural and creative sectors to the social, economic and artistic development of Europe couldn’t be more tangible, yet our sectors find themselves in danger of partial collapse, it is more important than ever to preserve and support Europe’s arts, culture and heritage and the values they promote.

Investing in our culture is investing in our future. Now is the time to turn words into concrete measures.

SIGNATORIES

ACT – Association of Commercial Television in Europe
AEC – Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen AEPO-ARTIS – Association of European Performers’ Organisations
ANIMATION EUROPE
CAE – Culture Action Europe
CEATL – The Council of European Literary Translator Associations
CEPI – European Audiovisual Production
CEPIC – Centre of the Picture Industry
CICAE – International Confederation of Arthouse Cinemas
CIRCOSTRADA – European Network for Circus & Street Arts
ECA – European Choral Association – Europa Cantat
ECCD – The European Coalitions for Cultural Diversity
ECSA – European Composer and Songwriter Alliance
EDN – European Dancehouse Network
EFA – European Festivals Association
EFFORTS – European federation of fortified sites
EFJ – The European Federation of Journalists
EFNYO – On behalf of the European Federation of National Youth Orchestras
EFP – European Film Promotion
EHTTA – European Historic Thermal Towns Association
EI – Europa International
EIBF – European and International Booksellers
ELIA – globally connected European network of higher arts education
EMC – European Music Council
EMCY – European Union of Music Competitions for Youth
EMEE – European Music Exporters Exchange
EMU – European Music School Union
ENCATC – The European network on cultural management and policy
ENCC – European Network of Cultural Centres
EOFed – European Orchestra Federation
ERIH – The European Route of Industrial Heritage EuroCinema
Europa Cinémas
Europavox
Eurozine – European network of cultural journals
EVA – European Visual Artists
FEDEC – European Federation for Professional Circus Schools
FEP – Federation of European Publishers
FERA – Federation of European Film Directors
FIA – International Federation of Actors
FIAPF – International Federation of Film Producers Associations
FIM – International Federation of Musicians
FSE – Federation of Screenwriters in Europe
GESAC – The European Authors’ Societies
IAO – International Artist Organisation of Music
ICMP – The Global Voice of Music Publishing
IETM – International network for contemporary performing arts
IFPI – International Federation of the Phonographic Industry
IFRRO – International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations IGCAT – International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism IMMF – International Music Managers Forum
IMPALA – Independent music companies association
IMPF – Independent Music Publishers International Forum
IN SITU – European platform for artistic creation in public space
ISFE – The Interactive Software Federation of Europe
IVF – International Video Federation
JM International
KEA European Affairs
Live DMA – European network for music venues, clubs and festivals Liveurope – the platform for new European talent
Michael Culture
NEMO – The Network of European Museum Organisations
On the Move
REMA – the European Early Music Network
Res Artis – Worldwide Network of Arts Residencies
SAA – Society of Audiovisual Authors
SHAPE – Sound, Heterogeneous Art and Performance in Europe Sistema Europe – The Sistema Europe Association
UNI MEI – UNI global union – media, entertainment & arts UNIC – International Union of Cinemas
Yourope – The European Festival Association

The statement is available for download here: Europe’s cultural and creative sectors: Covid-19 statement

Music is one of the first sectors hit by the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. It will also be one of the last.

As borders close, venues as well as festivals suspend their activities, performances are cancelled, group activity is stopped, shops close, and new releases are put on hold, the entire creative value chain is stalling. Artists and their management, performers, composers, songwriters, music educators, conductors, booking agents, record shops, labels, publishers, distributors, promoters, manufacturers, technicians, events managers and event staff count among the many actors of the ecosystem whose livelihoods are on the line.

These risks will persist, even after the public health emergency is solved. The stark reality is that profound harm will be felt long into 2021 due to how the music ecosystem operates.

In light of this dire situation, we call for emergency as well as sustainable public support and structural policies at EU, national, regional and local level to consolidate the music ecosystem, and help it thrive again in all its diversity.

The undersigned music organisations urge Member States and the European Commission to take a stance and significantly increase the national and EU budgets dedicated to culture, and within that to music. Secondly, under the EU Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative, it is imperative that each Member State provides Europe’s creative sector with swift and comprehensive access to Structural Funds in order to offset the harm in the shorter term.

The full magnitude of the current turmoil will build for months and the number of casualties will be high. Even when the complete standstill ends, the crisis will continue due to hyper saturation of events and new releases and audiences will be unpredictable.

All this points to a slow recovery, with less job opportunities, less participation in music and less room for artistic risk-taking. Jobs and diversity are at stake.

At the same time, we see how important the cultural sectors are in promoting solidarity and in providing rallying points. Within the confines of their homes, artists and DJs have been streaming their own live performances to fight isolation by engaging online communities. Drawing upon the example of Italy, citizens from across Europe gather on their balconies to play music and regain a shared sense of common purpose.

This reminds us that music is a vehicle to recreate a sense of community. In times of containment and pressure, music builds bridges between individuals and cultures irrespective of social, ethnic, cultural backgrounds.

Music and culture are essential to offer citizens the renewed social and cultural bond that Europe will sorely need.

As decision makers reflect on how to address the crisis, culture must be recognised as a priority sector.

The undersigned organisations:

AEC, Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen
AEPO-ARTIS
Beachfest, The European Association of Beach Festivals
CIME/ICEM, International Confederation of Electroacoustic Music
DME, Digital Music Europe
EAA, European Arenas Association
ECA-EC, European Choral Association – Europa Cantat
ECSA, European Composer and Songwriter Alliance
EFNYO, European Federation of National Youth Orchesta
EMC, European Music Council
EMCY, European Union of Music Competitions for Youth
EMEE, European Music Exporters Exchange
EMMA, European Music Managers Alliance
EOFed, European Orchestra Federation
ETEP, European Talent Exchange Programme
Europavox
EJN, Europe Jazz Network
EVTA, European Voice Teachers Association
FIM, International Federation of Musicians
GESAC, the European Authors Societies
IAMIC, International Association of Music Information Centres
IAML, International Association of Music Libraries, Archives, and Documentation Centres
IAO, International Artist Organisation of Music
ICAS, International Cities of Advanced Sound
ICMP, International Confederation of Music Publishers
ICSM, International Society for Contemporary Music
IFPI, International Federation of the Phonographic Industry
IMMF, International Music Managers Forum
IMPF, Independent Music Publishers International Forum
IMPALA, Independent music compagnies associations
IMZ, International Music + Media Centre
INES, Innovation Network of European Showcases
JMI, Jeunesses Musicales International
JUMP, European Music Market Accelerator
Keychange
Live DMA, European network for music venues and festivals
Liveurope, the platform for new European Talent
Pearle*, Live Performance Europe
SHAPE, Sound Heterogenous Art and Performance in Europe
REMA, European Early Music Network
Resident Advisor
We are Europe
Yourope, the European festival Association

The statement in full is available here: Music sector joins together to call for EU and national investment to address current crisis and promote diversity

The film and audiovisual sector in Europe calls for urgent action by EU and Member State decision-makers to safeguard the future of the sector in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, following in the footsteps of initial emergency measures announced at national level, including by film funds and other bodies.

Why does it matter? We are facing a profound crisis for creativity and culture in Europe – for businesses and for individuals. Our sector is at the heart of Europe’s cultural, creative and social identity and a key contributor to the European economy and employment; immediate intervention is therefore crucial and indeed strategic for European and national unity going forward. Without a firm commitment from European and national leaders, the film and audiovisual sector in Europe will not recover from the unprecedented impact of the health crisis.

Our sector could play a major role in the healing and recovery process that our societies are going to face in the months and years ahead – but only if its basic infrastructure can be saved.

Why is film/AV specific? The sector is characterized by its project-based nature and irregular business cycles – a vast interconnected eco-system from project development through creation, financing, production, exhibition, distribution (online and offline), and all forms of broadcasting. The sector’s activities are driven by numerous individual creators, entrepreneurs, companies of all sizes, including many SMEs and freelancers that have all been thrown into a social and economic crisis as a result of the pandemic. Each segment of the sector from project development, financing, production through exhibition, distribution and broadcasting will have its own specific challenges going forward. Different impacts are experienced in different Member States, including in different parts of each individual Member State.

The negative impact will not stop when normal activities resume in our societies; rather it will continue through the medium- to long-term due to the long development/lead time nature of the sector.

Although gathering around screens at home has contributed to a sense of unity during the crisis, this has not stopped the current wave of mass job and income losses in the film and audiovisual sector, nor will it translate into recovery of investments, simple resumption of interrupted production, exhibition or distribution activities, or indeed funding for development of future projects.

What is needed? Urgent financial support now and in the months to come to safeguard the existing film and audiovisual eco-system and the future of the sector in Europe which is suffering grievously because of valid social distancing measures and related societal consequences. The crisis in our sector will be felt way beyond the confinement period.

The film and audiovisual sector in Europe can be a conduit and a catalyst for the debates and discussions which will be essential in Europe’s democracies as its citizens come to terms with the consequences of this unprecedented crisis and lay the groundwork for new optimism and confidence in our shared European future.

The statement is available here: Joint Film and Audiovisual Sector COVID-19 Statement – 7 April 2020

AEPO-ARTIS joined a group of 90 organisations from across Europe’s cultural and creative sectors in writing to the President of the European Council and Member States representatives, ahead of the European Council discussions on the future EU budget:

Dear President of the European Council, Dear Member States representatives,

We are writing as a group of 90 organisations from across Europe’s cultural and creative sectors ahead of the European Council discussions on the future EU budget.

At this key juncture of the negotiations on a future EU Multi-Financial Framework (2021-2027), we call on you to support the European Parliament’s proposed budget for the Creative Europe Programme 2021-20271, the only EU framework Programme dedicated to cultural and creative
sectors.

Today, Creative Europe represents a mere 0,15% of the overall EU Budget. This is by no means proportionate to our sectors’ contribution to the EU economy, which stands at €509bn in value added to GDP and over 12 million full-time jobs (7.5 % of the EU’s work force).

Our culture and our talents support artistic freedom and media pluralism, which are crucial for maintaining open, inclusive and creative societies. Yet, culture is low on the EU’s political agenda, and these sectors remain structurally underfinanced. The financing gap for Europe’s cultural and creative SMEs alone is estimated to be somewhere between €8bn and €13bn.

This is why we welcome the European Parliament’s proposal to increase the Creative Europe budget to €2.8bn. We call on the Council to support this much-needed boost to the future of Europe’s arts, culture and heritage, and the values they promote.

The contribution of Europe’s cultural and creative sectors to the social, economic and artistic development of Europe fully justifies the added value of EU investment in culture.

Our common values and our unique cultural diversity lie at the center of our collective European project and are the best ambassadors for the EU’s global influence in the world.

Investing in our culture is investing in our future. Let’s show a high level of ambition and shape a brighter future for Europe.

The open letter is available here: Open letter to EU leaders from Europe’s cultural and creative sectors

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