When regulating the position of artists in the society, one shouldn't have Mozart, Rembrandt, Beethoven, Balzac or some other genius in mind, but a human that chooses art as his profession because he has his internal motives to be a genius. The system should give opportunity to an artist to be independent, to express his talent in the way he finds the best, and in the same time secure a descent life for him and his family.
This was expressed by Croatian president and composer Professor Ivo Josipovic on the 6th of November at the final session of the European Council of Artists' (ECA) conference "Arts Funding | Artistic Freedom" in Zagreb, arranged in co-operation with the Croatian Freelance Artists' Association (HZSU).
The President's remarks closed an intense two-day conference attended by more than 60 delegates from 20 European countries.
The conference's opening addresses were delivered by Nina Obuljen, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Culture, Gvozden Flego, Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly and chair of its Culture Committee and by Michael Burke and Silvije Petranovic presidents of the ECA and HZSU respectively. The opening took place in Zagreb's new Museum for Contemporary Art amidst a large exhibition of Croatian modern art.
On Saturday the conference continued with speeches and debates on the delicate relationship between the artists and their funders, patrons or sponsors and the potential for artists to act independently in this context. Philosopher Zarco Paic, Croatia, sculptor Louise Walsh, Ireland, author Sibila Petlevski, Croatia, cultural manager Marta Smolikova, Czech Republic, author Christian Brandt, Finland and Patricia Mazarambroz,IPR specialist at the Spanish Ministry of Culture, each from their different perspectives, made though provoking presentations.
Several speakers and artists in the audience spoke of the effects of the financial crisis on both public and private funding of arts and culture and the increasingly difficult conditions on the ground. Discussion on new ways and to find constructive solutions for artists, artists' organisations and the arts generally dominated the debate.
A conference report will be available in due course…
For further information contact:
European Council of Artists, eca@eca.dk
Croatian Freelance Artists' Association, alen.ackar@hzsu.hr