We want a new beginning, a real artistic and cultural ambition for Europe

Governments and European institutions are currently defining the goals and guidelines of their next programmes for Europe. These programmes reflect a new vision as described in the « EU 2020 Strategy » in which cultural policy would be reduced down to its mere economic and social aspects. We are deeply concerned by the decrease or potential loss of the Culture Programme and the inability to generate cultural projects in the Structural Funds, without risking to diminish its cultural viability and the support for artistic creation. This is a step backward which we do not wish to take. − Because it would destroy the European cultural edifice that has been patiently built for over more than twenty years by states, regions, artists, and cultural organizations. − Because Europe is being built upon the concept that the peoples, liberated from tyranny and freely associated, walk together towards a common destiny, a destiny that can only be democratic and fed by a shared understanding about the role of art and culture. − Because the European project itself is going through a legitimacy crisis and the old demons from the past are resurfacing. On the contrary, we firmly believe that the ideas, the angles and the imagination of the future come from research and artistic creation. Research and artistic creation are the melting pot of aesthetic and social innovations, which in turns generates diversity. It is only when each citizen can access this treasure that the inventive, democratic, and creative societies we are fostering can build themselves. We, the artists and citizens, call upon the European Commission, the European Parliament, and our respective governments to reprioritize the Culture Programme’s budget and guarantee support of artistic and cultural dimensions in all other programmes. We want a new beginning, a real artistic and cultural ambition for Europe Early signatories of the appeal include: Romeo Castellucci - Italie Stanislas Nordey - France Olivier Cadiot - France Rodolphe Burger - France Frédéric Fisbach - France Bernard Fouccroulle - Bruxelles Jérôme Bel - France Eric Lacascade - France Simon Mc Burney - Angleterre Pascal Rambert - France Alvis Hermanis – Lettonie Marina Abramovic - Artiste serbe, New York Krzysztof Warlikowski - Pologne Ivo van Hove - Directeur - Pays Bas Christophe Honoré - France Claude Régy - France Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui - Belgique Thomas Ostermeier - Allemagne Galin Stoev - Bulgarie Josef Nadj - France Alain Platel - Belgique François Le Pillouër - France Hortense Archambault - France Vincent Baudriller - France Didier Thibaut - France Marc Weugue - France Micheline Attoun - France Martin BEYER - Suisse - France Nicolas CANTILLON - Suisse - France Laurence YADI - Suisse - France Anne LE GOFF - France Daniel ANDRIEU - France JEAN-LOUIS COLINET - Bruxelles Jean-Claude Berutti - France Christa Müller - Allemagne BECKER Franck - France Brigitte Jaques-Wajeman - France Daniel BOUCON - France Charlotte Giteau - France Lucile BODSON - France Jacques Kraemer - France Jean Pierre Brière - France Peduzzi Francis - France Roger LE ROUX - France Olivier GRASSER - France Laurent Vinauger - France Christophe Huysman - France Frédéric MARAGNANI - France David Marchal - France René Loyon - France Julie Comte - France Jean-Louis HECKEL - France Sylvie Baillon - France Jean-Michel Puiffe - France