Resolution

Know-how transfer between artists in Europe is a need
Cultural Diversity on a global scale is a must

The ECA Conference "Artists Sharing without Frontiers. Networking in the Enlargement Process" in Bucharest, 5-7 September concluded:

The EU enlargement process is mainly based on economical and political integration. Culture, however, has never been given priority and a clear direction. Therefore accents have constantly been modified. Contrary to the early idea of culture as a pillar of the future Europe, discussions within the areas of education and culture have developed into superficial general debates referring to the subsidiarity principle, which guarantees the national states’ sovereignty in cultural matters.

The ECA Conference underlined the need for a “know-how” transfer and cultural exchange to be ensured between creative and performing artists in the different regions of Europe that would reflect the current and future situations of the artists and the cultural industries during the long transition period from 15 to 25, later 27 countries within the EU “boundaries” and the expected continued enlargement.

Another contribution of the ECA Conference regards Cultural Diversity.

ECA is participating as a member in the discussions of the International Network of Cultural Diversity and has also been present in meetings of the Coalition for Cultural Diversity. UNESCO is planning a global convention on Cultural Diversity backed by the informal network of cultural ministers INCP.

Artists are running the risk of decision makers giving lip service to the importance of culture, while economic globalisation destroys national film production, regional book markets, many subsidized theatres and other manifestations that do not fit within the narrow frames of trends and conformity.

The ECA Conference "Artists Sharing without Frontiers" meeting in Bucharest 5-7 September 2003 demands that our representatives in the European Union and in the WTO negotiations defend the cultural exemption as the only way to really defend cultural diversity in its true sense for us artists."

Artists, cultural workers, administrators and politicians from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Republic Moldova, Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, attended the conference. It was arranged by the European Council of Artists in co-operation with the National Alliance of the Creators’ Unions ANUC and the Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs in Romania.