Arts Festivals and Cities launch ‘About Europe’ in the presence of Glenn Micallef, EU Com­mis­sion­er for Culture

Deeply connected to the large and engaged communities they represent, festivals have an undeniable multiplier effect. They constitute the European investment seed for a series of spillover effects in various non-cultural sectors. In this context, festivals together with their local authorities are essential to the success of a bottom-up Europe in which citizens play a fundamental role. As Sir Jonathan Mills affirmed in a recent speech at the Berlin Conference 2025: “When people gather at a festival, they practice democracy. They show that community can be built not only through blood, but through trust and imagination. (...) We need to listen to what is happening on the ground – in the myriad local spaces regularly transformed by the power of culture.”

Commissioner Glenn Micallef said, “Across Europe, festivals bring communities together - celebrating our rich cultural diversity while strengthening trust, dialogue and imagination. By bringing European and local politicians together with artists and festival-makers, today’s roundtable hosted by the European Festivals Association reflected the spirit of the Culture Compass: placing culture at the heart of policymaking and recognising its role in shaping a democratic, cohesive and resilient Europe. By listening to what is happening in these local cultural spaces, we are tuning in to Europe’s heartbeat and investing in its shared future.”

EFA’s proposal, ‘About Europe… under continual construction’ as presented to the Commissioner, builds on the spirit of EFFE (Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe) and the Culture Compass for Europe - Europe for Culture, Culture for Europe. It’s an invitation from and to the cultural world to engage in a public conversation about the evolution of Europe; as a continent, as a political entity, as a voice in the world and as a cultural society. The outcome of the Round Table reflects a clear commitment from artists, festivals, cities to work in close collaboration with local authorities, Members of the European Parliament (Nela Riehl, Chair of the CULT Committee - Greens/EFA; Hannes Heide, S&D; Hélder Sousa Silva, EPP; Diana Riba i Giner, Greens/EFA). These exchanges would explore perspectives on Europe’s role, responsibilities, and future. Akram Khan, Artistic director, Choreographer, and Dancer, made as first contribution to the conversation: “We have so often underestimated the value of our art and culture. It is not only when civilisations are flourishing, when our art and culture should be on display. But it is when we are at our most vulnerable, where art and culture serve the most valuable purpose to our societies.”

The Round Table hosted at BRONKS - Theatre for Young Audiences in Brussels, also marked the launch of a strengthened dialogue between the European Commissioner and Europe’s arts festivals, underlining the unique agency of festivals as platforms for artistic expression, civic engagement, and European dialogue. Discussions highlighted the crucial role festivals can play in advancing key priorities on the European Commission’s agenda related to artistic freedom, fair conditions for artists and cultural workers, promoting diversity, boosting innovation and competitiveness, as well as improving the attractiveness of our neighbourhoods and regions. Commissioner Micallef concluded the meeting by saying he is looking forward to seeing the idea of ‘About Europe’ initiative and campaign developed and taken further. 

EFA President Jan Briers concluded, “For 74 years, the European Festivals Association has been bringing together festival makers across Europe and beyond. Festivals are committed to fostering artistic freedom in Europe and embrace their responsibility to inspire our societies towards a more inclusive, sustainable and caring world.”

Resources

• ‘About Europe’ website: www.about-europe.eu   
• Akram Khan’s contribution to ‘About Europe’: www.about-europe.eu/contributions  
• Sir Jonathan Mill’s keynote speech at the Berlin Conference 2025: www.eye-to-eye.online/jonathan-mills-2  
• The Culture Compass for Europe: https://culture.ec.europa.eu/policies/culture-compass  
• Festivals in Context: The Role of the Arts in Local Cultural Policy: www.european-festivals.eu/insights-stories/festivals-in-context-the-role-of-the-arts-in-local-cultural-policy  

Presskit

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/jqb5ucluishvxl7urblqr/AL0opAaCTcaJ2W1MBGs_uu8?rlkey=suzn0s8lpuzad3vjpmpq7y3u8&st=en0j7fo9&dl=0

Contact

If you would like an interview with EFA’s President, EFA’s Secretary General or one of the participants listed here below, please contact: Audrey Brisack, EFA’s Director Network and Communication, audrey[@]european-festivals.eu - 0032 (0)472 52 72 32