European Network of Cultural Centres
ENCC
Established in 1994, the European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC) fosters dialogue and cooperation between socio-cultural centres across Europe.
ID: 547778996786-89
Lobbying Activity
Response to A Culture Compass for Europe
12 May 2025
The cultural sectors are often process-driven and reflect deep social, historical and artistic contexts. This stand-alone character must be preserved and protected, particularly in policy making and funding frameworks. Attempts to assess it solely through economic metrics risk undermining its intrinsic value. Recognize the cultural sector as a domain of public value beyond market logic. Rigid performance metrics can stifle innovation. Many cultural projects evolve over time, shaped by collaboration and public interaction. Overly specific outcome reporting frameworks create pressure to "predict" results, which disincentivizes risk-taking and novelty. Adopt flexible and adaptive reporting models that allow for reflection. Evaluation should consider "unexpected outcomes" as a valid category. To sustain long-term support and strategic investment, the cultural compass emphazise economic evidence, while culture's impact is vaster: studies show culture's contribution to social cohesion, mental health and critical thinking skills. Strengthen partnerships between cultural institutions, academic researchers and public agencies to build a shared evidence base. Invest in methodologies that reflect both quantitative and qualitative impact, respecting the sectors unique dynamics. Cultural spaces are the guardian of democratic values such as open and critical dialogue - particularly for marginalized groups. In the face of rising polarization, censorship pressures and autocratic movements, it is essential to reinforce the cultural sector as a safe space for democratic exchange. Embed the protection of artistic freedom and cultural safety within public policy frameworks. This includes legal and financial protections for controversial or dissenting artistic content, supporting institutions that host inclusive, critical programming and promoting cultural literacy as a democratic competence. Ongoing, structured dialogue between the cultural sector and EU institutions is essential to ensure that European cultural policies remain relevant, inclusive and responsive to sectoral needs. Culture is a dynamic force for European identity, cohesion and innovation, yet the sector often lacks consistent channels for meaningful input at the policy making level. Establish and strengthen permanent dialogue mechanisms, bringing together practitioners, policy makers and civil society representatives. Structural barriers continue to exclude many individuals and communities - particularly marginalized groups. Develop and implement strategies to ensure access, including accessibility standards for events, programming and communication (physical, sensory, cognitive and linguistic) and support for community-led initiatives, which reflect lived experiences and local cultural expression.
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