The ECA works for the interests of the professional artists in Europe – artists, writers and performers – and for cooperation between them. The founding of the ECA must be viewed in the light of the profound political, social, economic and technological developments currently taking place in Europe.
The ECA was officially established at its inaugural conference held at the European Film College in Ebeltoft, Denmark, in May 1995. The idea behind the ECA is to work with issues of common interest to professional artists at an interdisciplinary level.
The framework of European cooperation has been set up in order to create a visible interdisciplinary presence for the professional artists and their organizations within the European arena, and to monitor changes in administration, financial matters, social practices and technology affecting the situation of professional artists.
The ECA is an effective forum for dialogue between professional artists, their representatives and the political decision-makers on a European level. Such a forum will strengthen the dialogue between the professional artists, politicians and the political institutions. As a result, the ECA will take on an active joint responsibility for the future cultural development in Europe.
The purpose of the ECA is to help professional artists influence European strategies concerning European artists, particularly their social and economic situation.
One of the basic ideas behind the cultural policy in the Nordic countries is democratic co-determination, where the views expressed by the professional artists and their organisations are important factors.
In the Nordic countries and in the Netherlands, the artists' councils are organised as joint bodies that represent all the artists' associations concerned. These councils deal with problems and questions of common interest to all the member organisations.
The ECA is based on an interdisciplinary and democratic organization with clear representative structures. The representative organisational structure is now being developed in many European countries in order to make sure that a dialogue takes place between with the political decision-makers at both national and European levels and to secure the necessary degree of openness. Furthermore, the ECA wants to bring the European concept closer to the professional environments and to the practising artists.
To communicate with and influence European policies of concern to artists, and to secure close mutual relations to the political institutions of Europe such as the EU, the council of Europe, UNESCO and other relevant organisations.
To cooperate with political decision-makers in Europe and with organisations representing the professional artists of Europe.
To organise conferences, seminars and round-table discussions on issues crucial to the future cultural development in Europe, to the position of the artists and to other matters relating to creative work.
To ensure the cooperation of all European artists through the mutual exchange of relevant information on matters of policy concerning artists in the European countries.
To contribute to a greater political and public recognition of professional artists
and their part in the future development of Europe, thereby strengthening the official position of the artists in Europe.
In August 2009 the following countries were ECA members: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, the Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saamiland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.
The Executive Committee is elected by the members to lead the organisation between the congresses. In the Executive Committee for 2008/09 are: