Topic:

Participatory governance

Working methods:

Peer-learning activity followed by a conference hosted by the Commission

Rationale:

Participatory governance is an innovative, people-centred and forward-looking approach, introducing a real change in how cultural heritage is managed and valued. As a follow-up to the OMC group ‘Participatory governance of cultural heritage’ (2016/17) and the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 experts will exchange good practice through peer-learning and discuss how to support participatory processes. With respect to the ‘Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (Faro Convention)’ the know-how of the Council of Europe should be taken into account.

Target outputs:

The activities will increase networking and knowledge transfer in the field and will, in the long term, help to foster participatory governance of cultural heritage.

Topic:

Adaptation to climate change

Working methods:

OMC group, including a mapping exercise

Rationale:

With regard to ‘The Paris Agreement’ (2015) and UN Sustainable Development Goal 13 on climate action, experts will identify and exchange good practices and innovative measures for the historical environment in relation to climate change. Information from Horizon 2020 scientific projects will be shared and EU activities, including the ‘Study on safeguarding heritage from disasters’ (2018), will be inventoried. Specific focus should be given to the energy efficiency of historical buildings, the design and transformation of the cultural landscape and the safety of heritage under extreme climate circumstances.

Target outputs:

The exchange will lead to awareness-raising and capacity-building of national heritage experts on sustainability of cultural heritage. Their recommendations will contribute to discussions and planning of climate change measures at European and national level.

Topic:

Quality principles for cultural heritage interventions

Working methods:

Presidency workshop and peer-learning activity, and appropriated follow-up

Rationale:

As a follow-up to the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 and the OMC group ‘Skills, training and knowledge transfer: traditional and emerging heritage professions’ (2017/2018), experts will exchange practical examples of interventions on heritage through EU funds. As the issues of reconstruction and authenticity are not always properly addressed, it is important to ensure that decisions on any changes to the historical environment are based on a proper assessment of the consequences and proper understanding of the heritage value.

Target outputs:

The aim is to develop guidelines governing the next generation of EU funds, ensuring quality principles for conservation and safeguarding in heritage. The experts will deliver a comprehensive analysis and recommendations regarding the quality principles to be applied throughout interventions affecting the historical environment.

Topic:

Alternative funding for cultural heritage

Working methods:

Workshops hosted by the Commission

Rationale:

Due to the strong pressure on public budgets devoted to cultural heritage, alternative sources of funding are being developed, from public/private partnerships, to the involvement of lotteries and tax credit for donations. The role of foundations will also be examined in this context.

Target outputs:

The aim is to identify new sources of funding for cultural heritage and transferable best practices in order to promote its economic sustainability.

Topic:

Social cohesion

Working methods:

OMC group followed by a Presidency conference

Rationale:

After reviewing the report of the OMC group on ‘Fostering the contribution of culture to social inclusion’ (2017/18), a follow-up OMC group will be given a new mandate to explore specific topics of particular interest in more depth, such as the need to include culture as a cross-cutting issue in the fields of social policy, health policy and local development, among others. Subsequently a conference will be organised to disseminate the results achieved and insights gained. If required, further steps should be discussed afterwards.

Target outputs:

The aim is to identify best practices of cross-sectorial cooperation, which have relevant social and economic impact. Funding possibilities under the Creative Europe Programme and other relevant EU programmes will be explored.

Topic:

High-quality architecture and built environment for everyone

Working methods:

OMC group followed by a conference hosted by Austria and possible Council conclusions

Rationale:

As recalled by ‘The Davos Declaration 2018: Towards a high-quality Baukultur for Europe’, culture plays a central role in the environment shaped by humans (which includes architecture, heritage, public space and landscape). Innovative and inclusive processes to deliver and preserve quality architecture are needed to develop an integrated approach contributing to the well-being of all citizens. The focus will be put on architecture as a discipline that encompasses the right balance between cultural, social, economic, environmental and technical aspects for the common good. Multi-disciplinary and participatory governance models contributing to social inclusion and sustainable development of neighbourhoods will be analysed.

Target outputs:

The exchange of experience and success stories will help to identify best practices. Synergies could be established with the Structural Funds, the Urban Agenda for the EU and its new Partnership on Culture and Cultural Heritage as well as with the UN Agenda 2030 and the OECD project on culture-led regional productivity and well-being.

Topic:

Understanding digital audiences

Working methods:

Commission-led expert group

Rationale:

Digital technologies provide an opportunity for cultural organisations to develop interactive relationships with different audiences. In order to take advantage of these opportunities, organisations have to understand their digital audiences better. As a follow-up to the OMC group (2015/16) and the ‘Council conclusions on promoting access to culture via digital means with a focus on audience development’ (2017), a Commission-led expert group will examine innovative tools and develop guidelines for collecting and managing data on digital audiences.

Target outputs:

Voluntary guidelines should serve as a source of inspiration for cultural organisations and help them to adapt to the ever-changing digital environment. With more user-oriented services, organisations will deepen relationships with their current audiences and reach new ones.

Topic:

Young creative generation

Working methods:

Presidency conference and possible Council conclusions, follow-up to be discussed

Rationale:

From an early age, both culture and education promote the development of creative skills and critical thinking. Digitalisation shapes new models of access to culture, personal reinterpretation and self-expression, arousing keen interest among young people and engaging them as active audiences. There is a growing need to have a more strategic approach related to young people’s participation in culture, in order to foster their creativity and develop skills that are important for their future employability, active citizenship and social inclusion.

Target outputs:

The policy recommendations will aim at fostering the creativity of young people and their innovation potential in the digital age.

Topic:

Citizenship, values and democracy

Working methods:

Presidency conference followed by a study

Rationale:

Participation in arts and culture promotes active citizenship, openness, curiosity and critical thinking and thereby leads to a strengthening of democracy. A study will examine the impact of culture on these aspects and collect examples. Cooperation with the Council of Europe should be envisaged and the applicability of its ‘Indicator Framework on Culture and Democracy’ in the EU context shall be examined.

Target outputs:

The study will contribute to evidence-based policy measures and raise awareness about the importance of culture for society and democracy.

Topic:

Status and working conditions of artists and cultural and creative professionals

Working methods:

Study followed by an OMC group

Rationale:

The study should explore career paths including entrepreneurship, nature of income, influence of the market, access to finance, social security and cross-border mobility. As a follow-up, an OMC group should analyse the results, exchange good practice in the Member States and develop policy recommendations.

Target outputs:

The aim is to improve knowledge of the working conditions of artists and cultural and creative professionals in Europe and to get policy advice on designing a favourable environment.

Topic:

Artistic freedom

Working methods:

Workshop hosted by the Commission, followed by a possible conference together with other relevant EU agencies and international organisations

Rationale:

According to the ‘EU Charter of Fundamental Rights’ and the ‘UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression’ artistic freedom is central to democratic societies. Art can help overcome barriers connected to race, religion, gender, age, nationality, culture and identity, by providing a counter-discourse and contesting privileged narratives and perspectives. Developments and challenges to artistic freedom will be discussed.

Target outputs:

The aim is to discuss specific experiences on this matter in order to raise awareness of its relevance.

Topic:

Co-productions in the audiovisual sector

Working methods:

Presidency conference and possible Council conclusions followed by an OMC group

Rationale:

According to the European Audiovisual Observatory, European co-productions generate three times as many admissions as national films. Co-productions help the European industry to scale up by strengthening its position in Europe and in key international markets. National funds and European programmes (such as Creative Europe MEDIA and EURIMAGES) are devoting increasing attention to the potential of co-productions, both for feature films and TV productions, including bilateral co-production and co-development among European countries, and co-production with non-European countries. This potential should also be explored as regards the development of diverse audiences.

Target outputs:

In order to stimulate co-productions, policy recommendations and incentives for co-productions in legal frameworks and audiovisual support schemes will be developed.

Topic:

Diversity and competitiveness of the music sector

Working methods:

Presidency conferences, workshops hosted by the Commission and possible Council conclusions

Rationale:

The digital shift, notably the appearance of music streaming, and the increased competition from global players has led to fundamental changes in the way music is created, produced, performed, distributed, consumed and monetised. Based on activities carried out in the context of ‘Music Moves Europe’, experts will exchange information on public policies to promote the mobility of artists and the circulation of local repertoire within and beyond Europe.

Target outputs:

The aim is to identify transferable best practices and to discuss suitable policy measures at European and national level.

Topic:

Multilingualism and translation

Working methods:

OMC group followed by a Presidency conference

Rationale:

In a multilingual environment, translation is key to enabling broader access to European content. To build upon Europe's linguistic diversity as an asset and to promote better circulation of European works, existing support mechanisms for translation at European and national level will be assessed. As digitalisation has a big impact on linguistic diversity and on the translation professions, their needs in this area will be addressed as well.

Target outputs:

Experts will exchange best practices on supporting translation in the book and publishing sector, as well as in other cultural and creative sectors, and recommend concrete measures under the Creative Europe Programme to promote linguistic diversity and the circulation of works.

Topic:

Financing and innovation

Working methods:

Informal meeting of Culture Ministers followed by stock-taking seminars hosted by the Commission

Rationale:

Following the OMC groups ‘Access to finance for cultural and creative sectors’ (2014/15) and ‘Developing entrepreneurial and innovation potential of the cultural and creative sectors’ (2016/17) as well as the ‘Council conclusions on cultural and creative crossovers to stimulate innovation, economic sustainability and social inclusion’ (2015), a stock-taking exercise is needed to assess the implementation of those recommendations.

Target outputs:

Experts will review what has been implemented so far and discuss measures for future work at European level.

Topic:

Gender equality in the cultural and creative sectors

Working methods:

Mapping and OMC group followed by possible Council conclusions

Rationale:

Mapping by the Commission will examine the situation of female artists and cultural professionals (e.g. fight against stereotypes and sexual harassment, access to resources, representation in decision-making positions, pay). In parallel, the Member States will exchange information on national circumstances and good practice. The OMC group will identify the main obstacles and suggest a set of concrete actions. As a next step, the Council may adopt conclusions focusing on selected objectives and actions.

Target outputs:

The aim is to raise awareness of gender equality in the cultural and creative sectors at political, administrative and practical levels and to propose concrete measures under the Creative Europe Programme.

Topic:

Strategic approach to international cultural relations of the EU

Working methods:

Meetings of the Cultural Affairs Committee (CAC) and/or other appropriate fora with the participation of the EEAS and officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and other relevant ministries, expert meetings and a Presidency conference.

Rationale:

Taking forward the work of the Friends of Presidency Group (2017/18) on the same topic, the Council will be invited to react to the Joint Communication from the Commission and the EEAS ‘Towards an EU strategy for international cultural relations’ (2016), by identifying common strategic principles, objectives and priorities of the EU approach, clarifying the roles of the actors involved and proposing areas where joint action at the European Union level is most relevant.

Target outputs:

Taking into account the horizontal nature of this task, the aim is to bring together experts from different sectors (e.g. culture, foreign affairs, education, migration, development cooperation, customs and enterprise policies) to develop a common EU strategic approach to international cultural relations, followed by concrete actions for its implementation.