Opera Ballet Vlaanderen has joined a group of nearly 200 cultural institutions from 39 countries calling on the European Parliament to protect the autonomy of cultural organizations. This call takes the form of an open letter titled "RESISTANCE NOW: FREE CULTURE", which will be launched on 30 November 2024.
Acute threat to artistic freedom
The signatories of the letter express their concern about what they consider an 'acute threat' to artistic freedom and cultural autonomy in Europe. They specifically point to "attacks, bans, dismissals and budget cuts" on cultural institutions in Hungary and Slovakia, which they believe are intended to undermine a "diverse European culture".
This worrying trend appears to be expanding to other European countries, including the Netherlands, France and Germany. A recent incident in Bulgaria, in which ultranationalist groups violently disrupted a premiere by American actor and director John Malkovich, has underscored the urgency of the situation.
Call to action
The signatories call on the European Parliament to "finally take an explicit stance" and advocate for the introduction of a Freedom of Culture Act. This law should protect artists and cultural institutions through the rule of law.
Jan Vandenhouwe, artistic director of Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, emphasizes the importance of this call: "The threat to artistic freedom touches the heart of what binds Europe together. Opera Ballet Vlaanderen therefore supports this call to protect cultural autonomy and to safeguard the importance of an open, creative society."
Broad support and launch
The open letter is supported by an impressive list of cultural institutions, including:
- Opera Ballet Vlaanderen
- Národní divadlo v Praze
- Nowy Teatr
- Festival d'Avignon
- De Munt / La Monnaie
Belgium is the strongest represented among the signatories with 24 organizations.
The launch of RESISTANCE NOW - FREE CULTURE (EN) takes place during a discussion event on 30 November at the Maillon Theater in Strasbourg, where former Member of the European Parliament and French Minister of Culture Catherine Trautmann will also be present. The letter will also be published in various leading European media.
The importance of cultural freedom
Milo Rau, artistic director of the Vienna Festival, emphasizes the seriousness of the situation: "Culture in Europe is in crisis. These problems are occurring across the entire continent, so we need action now. Otherwise, the European project of unity and peace will also ultimately disappear."
Heidi Wiley, executive director of the European Theatre Convention (ETC), adds: "It is unprecedented to unite so many organizations across Europe and beyond with one clear goal: to demand that European institutions protect artistic freedom and support cultural spaces as open and democratic environments that resist intimidation and political interference."
The signatories emphasize that Europe is based on the openness of the cultural life of individual countries and their free cooperation. They warn that if this disappears, the European project will lose its soul and meaning.
With this joint action, the cultural institutions hope to send a powerful signal to European policymakers and the public about the crucial importance of artistic freedom for the future of Europe.