Artists, cultural professionals and entrepreneurs from African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP) and from EU members have expressed their disappointment concerning the powerless influence of cultural cooperation programmes on development policies. Yet they expect a new commitment so that culture can see its contribute to economic development, well being and social cohesion recognised at the political level.
The “Culture and Creativity: vectors for development” EU international meeting that took place in Brussels in April, 2-3, gathered artists, cultural operators and political leaders from EU and ACP countries. The Brussels Declaration is the first (hope not single) outcome. It sums up the state of the art of the difficult relation between culture and development, lists objectives at political, economical, social and cultural level and proposes recommendations to professionals as well as authorities.
These voices request:
- a place for culture in governance and public policies at all levels;
- an integrated and transversal approach where arts and creation are taken into account by other sectorial policies;
- a proper social status and a facilitation of freedom of circulation for artists and art works.
The Agenda for Culture in a Globalised World launched last year has also raised many hopes. One of them was the recognition of the role of culture in international relations opening the way for multilateral cultural exchange.
The European Commission´s EuropeAid Office has reacted and included culture as one of its policy dimensions and tools for development.
Unfortunately, taking a close look at the EU Policy Coherence for Development, despite the respective Development Commissioner Louis Michel speech to this meeting, we can not find any reference to culture at all. The arts and culture sector does not show up in the list of intervention areas neither it is considered a cross-cutting issue.
This manifesto claims it is time to act! This demand gets reinforced in face of the actual global financial and social crisis and the urgency of food, energy, climate and human security crisis in developing countries.
It is indeed time for action for all: for the EU; for the member-states; but also for the governments of developing countries; and mostly for artists, cultural operators and arts organisations to join forces and keep on their work and commitment against all odds.
