Towards the Culture Compass: A Sector Blueprint

As the European Commission prepares its new cultural strategy, the Culture Compass, expected in November 2025, the European Festivals Association, alongside around 30 cross-border European cultural networks, has engaged in a collaborative effort to help shape a complementary vision for the sector.

Yesterday, Culture Action Europe (CAE) and its members launched the discussion paper Towards the Culture Compass: A Sector Blueprint. Coinciding with the opening of the MONDIACULT 2025 conference in Barcelona — where future global cultural policies are being crafted — the Blueprint proposes a direction for European cultural policies, co-created by and for the sector, represented in its diversity. It serves, on the one hand, as a useful point of orientation for future culture advocacy and actions in the cultural sector. On the other hand, it is also a discussion paper to be referenced and shared with decision-makers to ensure that the needs and challenges of the European cultural sector are addressed in future policy-making.

The document brings together ten interconnected policy briefs addressing: 1) artistic freedom; 2) working conditions; 3) artistic research, culture and innovation; 4) international cultural relations; 5) culture and health and well-being; 6) culture and sustainability; 7) cultural participation; 8) access to cultural and arts education; 9) culture and security; 10) culture and digital. 

Some common trends and priorities can be identified across the diverse briefs, including: 
• recognising culture as a foundational element of democratic and civic infrastructure, and access to culture and cultural participation as a fundamental right; 
• calling for stronger analysis and mutual learning in cultural fields, including the consolidation of studies, research, and expertise in the cultural sector; 
• advocating for stronger EU-level protections for culture, including the Artistic Freedom Act and the EU Charter on Working Conditions in the Cultural Sector;
• guaranteeing strong funding and resources for culture in the next long-term EU budget, both in AgoraEU and other funding instruments;
• embracing international cultural relations as a key strand of EU cultural policy, backed by a new strategy and sufficient funding;
• opposing the instrumentalisation of culture, and ensuring artistic freedom, better working conditions, and public support in the process.

CAE will present the discussion paper on 2 October at 14:30 CEST during the next Campaign Meeting for Ask, Pay, Trust, where we will walk through the paper, hear from contributors about their experience, and look ahead to the next steps in the campaign.