On the occasion of the 2007 European Council of Artists' conference Artists, Creativity, Society: Challenges for the Status of the Artist in the Beginning of the 21st century in Sibiu, cultural capital of Europe, the participants representing national umbrellas of professional artists' associations from 16 European countries from inside and outside the EU met to discuss the social status of the artist and related matters.
Taking into account the provisions of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the Communication of the European Commission of April 2007 regarding the role of culture, we support the analyses and conclusions of the 2006 Status of the Artist in Europe study ordered by the European Parliament as it is a very important and positive contribution to seeking a solution for the problems faced by the artists due to the specific and atypical nature of their work.
We urge the EU to stress to national governments the need to adopt legislation on the status of the artist, including education, training, social security, taxation, mobility etc.
In consultation with professional artists' organisations we propose the drafting of a European charter for activity in the field of artistic creation and the conditions for engaging therein. This would guide public authorities willing to support artistic creation.
On the all-European level itself we consider the following agendas to be of special importance:
- unrestricted mobility of the artist, not only within the EU (cultural passport, blue card adaptation for artists, transfer of pension and welfare entitlements acquired, recognition on Community level of diplomas and other qualification certificates in accordance with the Bologna process);
- establishment of a European clearing house for the exchange of information on legislation and good practices concerning the status of the artist;
- amendment of the European Arrest Warrant to exclude works of art and their creation from its scope;
- enforcement of the full and complete range of authors' and related rights at EU and member states levels.
Adopted in Sibiu 30 September 2007