A Cultural Deal for Europe: A central place for culture in the EU’s post-pandemic future aims to bring together the cultural sector and European policymakers to engage into dialogue, share ideas and co-develop strategies together for ensuring the central role of culture in the future of Europe. It is organised by Culture Action Europe (CAE), European Cultural Foundation, and Europa Nostra.

The online debate will take place online on 18 November 2020 3 pm – 5 pm CET and will focus critical questions about culture in Europe’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the future of Europe. With opening remarks by European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel and the European Parliament CULT Chair Sabine Verheyen.

Register via this link by 16 November.

We are excited to introduce you to a joint Hivos, European Cultural Foundation and Prince Claus Fund project: Forces of Art. See the Forces of Art website to learn more about how arts and culture shape societies across the world. Keep an eye on the book launch event - to be announced soon!

As in 2019 we partner with the International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam [IDFA] to bring you a series of recent documentaries capturing ‘Life in Europe’. This year the festival takes place from November 18 to December 6.

The thirty documentaries selected for this pathway, invite you to think about our continent which faces so many questions today - maybe even too many. While it may not be the worst of times, it is certainly not the easiest. How we deal with the questions of our economy, the refugee crisis, education, the rise of the far right and more will define tomorrow’s reality.

One of the granted projects in our 2019 grant call ‘Democracy Needs Imagination’ was ‘Il Nuovo Vangelo’, by the International Institute of Political Murder [IIPM]. The New Gospel entailed an interdisciplinary project [campaigns, public events, performances, and a film] to talk about global human injustices, but rolled out in Matera, one of the two 2019 European Capitals of Culture.

The film ‘The New Gospel’ premiered at the Venice International Film Festival 2020. We had a mail interview with Elisa Calosi, production manager, and Giacomo Bisordi, dramaturg.

What a strange year it has been in Europe. On the one hand, we have been closer together than ever before. From Finland to France, Poland to Germany: in one fell swoop, citizens of countries across the continent experienced how drastically a pandemic can change day-to-day life. Travel restrictions and border controls have divided us to a degree we haven’t experienced in a very long time. Even during summer holidays, it wasn’t easy or sometimes even possible to meet up to talk about life in the midst of the global pandemic.

When, if not now, should Europe come together for a conversation?

The European Green Deal is Europe’s roadmap for making EU’s economy sustainable. By 2050, the EU wants to be climate neutral. For this to happen, societies have to believe in the power of green initiatives. Our Culture of Solidarity grantee NOOR images aims to create iconic work documenting the recovery of Europe from one of the biggest economic crisis of our times.