Many personnalities of the world of culture throughout Europe have already signed the open letter to Mr Barroso urging the European commission to adopt a cultural policy fostering culture and cultural diversity in Europe.

The first signatories

Signatures to this day

Upon the initiative of the European coalitions for cultural diversity, the culture professionals are addressing an open letter to Mr Barroso so as to remind the European Commission of the urgent need to defend strong commitments in favour of culture.

Sign the petition here

The European coalitions for cultural diversity, with the participation of the European Platform on the potential of cultural and creative industries

invite you to a Conference

Culture, an added value for Europe

Tuesday January 31st, 2012  from 12:00 to 14:30 (lunch)

Library Solvay (Rue Belliard 137, 1040 Bruxelles)

What do creators and professionals expect from European policies? How could the development of creative and cultural industries be better fostered and sustained in Europe?  Professionals and experts will give their point of view on these issues and put forward some proposals for a more appropriate and efficient policy in Europe.

PROGRAMME

11:30-12:30 : Registration and lunch

12:30 : Opening speech by Marie-Thérèse Sanchez-Schmid, MEP, member of the Culture Committee, European Parliament, and author of the report « Unlocking the potential of Cultural and Creative industries » (France)

12:40 : Carole Tongue, President of the UK Coalition for cultural diversity and former MEP will moderate the debates with:

Dirk de Clippeleir, manager of the concert hall l’Ancienne Belgique (Belgium); Maureen Duffy, author and poet (UK); Antonio Masip Hidalgo, MEP, member of the Legal Affairs Committee, European Parliament; Ludovic Lagarde, stage director and manager of la Comédie de Reims (France); Metin Kazak, MEP, member of the International Trade Committee, European Parliament (Bulgaria); Yvette Masson-Zanussi, Manager, European Forum for Architectural Policies and President of the Platform on the potential of cultural and creative industries (France); Pascal Rogard, President of the French Coalition for Cultural Diversity (France); Fernando Vendrell, film and TV director and producer (Portugal)

14h20 : Closing speech by Doris Pack, MEP, President of the Culture Committee, European Parliament (Germany)

14h30 : Exchanges, coffee

Interpretation: English and French

REGISTRATION : Martine Schnitzler : 00 33(0)1 40 23 45 14  or cedc@coalitionfrancaise.org

The European coalitions for cultural diversity is an informal network of 13 national associations representing the diversity of the professional cultural organizations. They encourage the European institutions to adopt a European policy more favorable to culture and the diversity of cultural expressions. For more information

The European Platform on the potential of cultural and creative industries  was founded three years ago on the initiative of the European Commission in order to foster dialogue with civil society. The Platform gathers nearly 40 federations representatives of the European cultural sector. It has issued two sets of recommendations presented at the European Cultural Forum in Brussels in 2009 and 2011.