Join the First Europe-Wide Campaign to Protect Artistic Freedom
Join the First Europe-Wide Campaign to Protect Artistic Freedom
The Issue
Click here to see the full list of first signatories.
**EN**
Artistic freedom and the autonomy of cultural organisations are under attack in Europe. From bans to layoffs, violent disruptions to performances like at Sofia's Ivan Vazov National Theatre, we’re witnessing red lines being crossed.
Join the unprecedented campaign already uniting over 200 leading voices from 39 countries, representing 180 major national theatres, operas, festivals, and performing arts venues.
It’s time to act: sign the petition “RESISTANCE NOW: FREE CULTURE” addressed to the European Parliament calling for concrete actions such as the establishment of a ‘European Culture Freedom Act,’ asking for a clear positioning of the EU to protect the freedom and autonomy of culture.
This initiative has been launched in collaboration with Milo Rau and the Vienna Festival (Wiener Festwochen) / Free Republic of Vienna, the network of publicly-funded theatres European Theatre Convention (ETC), the Prospero – Extended Theatre platform and the network Opera Europa.
Your voice is vital in this collective effort. We invite you to join us in signing the petition and sending a strong signal of solidarity and vigilance.
**DE**
Künstlerische Freiheit und die Autonomie von Kultureinrichtungen in Europa sind gefährdet. Sei es durch Verbote oder Entlassungen bis hin zu gewaltsamen Störungen von Aufführungen wie im Ivan-Vazov-Nationaltheater in Sofia - wir erleben, wie rote Linien überschritten werden.
Schließen Sie sich jetzt der beispiellosen Kampagne an. Bereits über 200 Erstunterzeichnende aus 39 Ländern, die 180 große nationale Theater, Opern, Festivals und Spielstätten der darstellenden Künste vertreten, stehen hinter dem offenen Brief und den Forderungen an das Europäische Parlament.
Es ist an der Zeit zu handeln: Unterzeichnen Sie die Petition RESISTANCE NOW: FREE CULTURE, die an das Europäische Parlament gerichtet ist. Sie fordert konkrete Maßnahmen wie die Schaffung eines ‚European Culture Freedom Act‘ und die klare Positionierung der EU zum Schutz der Freiheit und Autonomie der Kultur.
Diese Initiative wurde in Zusammenarbeit mit Milo Rau und den Wiener Festwochen | Freie Republik Wien, dem Netzwerk öffentlich finanzierter Theater European Theatre Convention (ETC), der Plattform Prospero - Extended Theatre und dem Netzwerk Opera Europa gestartet.
Ihre Stimme ist entscheidend für diese gemeinsame Anstrengung. Wir laden Sie ein, sich uns anzuschließen und die Petition zu unterzeichnen, um ein starkes Zeichen der Solidarität und Wachsamkeit zu setzen.
**FR**
La liberté artistique et l'autonomie des institutions culturelles en Europe sont menacées. Qu'il s'agisse d'interdictions ou de licenciements, voire de violentes perturbations de spectacles comme au Théâtre national Ivan Vazov de Sofia, des lignes rouges ont été franchies.
Rejoignez dès maintenant cette campagne sans précédent. Déjà plus de 200 premiers signataires issus de 39 pays, représentant 180 grands théâtres nationaux, opéras, festivals et lieux de spectacle vivant, soutiennent la lettre ouverte et les demandes adressées au Parlement européen.
Il est temps d'agir : Signez la pétition RESISTANCE NOW : FREE CULTURE, adressée au Parlement européen. Elle demande des mesures concrètes telles que la création d'un 'European Culture Freedom Act' et la prise de position claire de l'UE pour la protection de la liberté et de l'autonomie de la culture.
Cette initiative a été lancée en collaboration avec Milo Rau et le Wiener Festwochen | Freie Republik Wien, le réseau de théâtres financés par des fonds publics European Theatre Convention (ETC), la plateforme Prospero - Extended Theatre et le réseau Opera Europa.
Votre voix est essentielle pour cet effort commun. Nous vous invitons à nous rejoindre et à signer la pétition afin de donner un signal fort de solidarité et de vigilance.
------
Download the Letter in EN | DE | FR
Dear Members of the European Parliament,
Dear President of the Parliament, Ms. Metsola,
Dear Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education, Ms. Nela Riehl,
We, cultural institutions and artists from across Europe, are alarmed by current cultural policy developments in various EU member states. While the Hungarian cultural sector has already been largely brought into line through new media laws and budget cuts, politically motivated layoffs are currently taking place in Slovakia – to name only the dismissals of the directors of the National Theatre and the National Gallery. The attacks on artistic freedom have reached an almost absurd level in many member states: at the National Theater of Sofia, a play over 100 years old, set in a fictitious Bulgaria, was performed without an audience in its first opening night due to attacks from ultranationalist circles, who physically prevented the viewers to enter the building of the theatre. In Austria, the right-wing nationalist Freedom Party (FPÖ) is threatening to cut funding for “woke” culture – which simply means all culture beyond local music organizations – while in the Netherlands, Geert Wilders' “Freedom Party”, in France the Rassemblement National and in Germany the AfD are pushing for radical cuts in funding for all cultural institutions and efforts that are not “traditional” and “national”. These cuts have already been implemented in many areas, according to the logic that what has been destroyed will not recover quickly.
We are aware that one of the principles of the European Union is not to intervene in the cultural policies of its various member states, but only to support them in “crises and unexpected challenges”, as stated in the EU Strategic Framework for Culture. So let us be clear: culture in Europe is facing just such a crisis. For many months, even years, and in some member states even for a whole decade, cultural institutions have been subjected to a political campaign that restricts freedom of expression and artistic freedom and eliminates everything that does not conform to the political line of right-wing conservative, nationalist party alliances through cuts or bans. These are no random cuts, but betray an orchestrated cultural-political strategy aimed at the disappearance of a diverse European culture that has grown since 1989. “Brussels should lose political significance,” is how the ‘Vienna Declaration’, which Herbert Kickl and Viktor Orbán, the leaders of the two strongest Central European right-wing parties, recently signed, sums it up. Because let's not be deceived: where open, non-partisan, cross-border culture disappears, the European unification and peace project itself will eventually disappear as well.
In view of this, we call on you to address the current developments in the EU member states in the European Parliament and to finally take an explicit stand. Important areas of European culture and transnational cooperation have already disappeared in the face of radical re-nationalization, and important cultural institutions have been filled with compliant bureaucrats - or starved to death - in many countries. In the face of looming cuts, we see self-censorship, fear and depression spreading. We therefore stand in solidarity with artists who have been dismissed or obstructed in their work, and with cultural institutions across Europe that are threatened with closure or have already been closed. Violently preventing a premiere from taking place in front of an audience, as happened in Sofia, is a more than clear warning that too many red lines have already been crossed.
We ask you to address the acute threat to a consistent European cultural policy and to speak out clearly about the attacks, bans, layoffs and cutbacks in the individual EU member states, We must build on the solidarity already shown by thousands of artists and arts organisations across Europe in condemning these brazen attacks on artistic freedom, and in using the power of international networks to multiply potential solutions. Both the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the EU’s Work Plan for Culture 2023-2026 demand protection for artistic freedom. We urge Member States and European institutions to fulfil their responsibilities to these documents – and provide even more safeguards by implementing a ‘European Culture Freedom Act’ as part of the Rule of Law.
Not only the reputation, but the existence of European culture in its diversity is at risk. Europe is based on the openness of the cultural life of the individual countries and their free cooperation. If these disappear, the European project loses its soul and meaning. Please act! It is not too late!
Yours sincerely,
Milo Rau & Artemis Vakianis (Directors, Vienna Festival (Wiener Festwochen) | Free Republic of Vienna, Austria & Member of Prospero – Extended Theatre)
Matej Drlička (Dismissed Director Slovak National Theatre, Slovakia, Member of ETC and Member Opera Europa)
Vasil Vasilev (General Director National Theatre Ivan Vazov, Bulgaria & Member of ETC and Prospero)
Cláudia Belchior & Heidi Wiley (President & Executive Director, European Theatre Convention - ETC)
Serge Rangoni (General Director Théâtre de Liège, Member of ETC & Lead Member of Prospero – Extended Theatre)
Karen Stone (General Director Opera Europa)
Click here to see the full list of first signatories
PRESS COVERAGE about the campaign
72 stories in 24 countries, reaching 80 million readers
Snapshot:
- Al Jazeera (Bosnia) Apel evropskih pozorišta: Protiv napada na umjetničke slobode
- Le Soir (Belgium) Nous appelons le Parlement européen à renforcer la protection de la liberté culturelle
- Nova.bg (Bulgaria) „Съпротива сега: Свободна култура”: Близо 200 национални театъра с кампания след протестите в София
- Jutarnji List (Croatia) ‘Širi se strah‘. Nakon što je bijesna rulja napala predstavu Johna Malkovicha, pobunili su se kulturnjaci, neki su iz Hrvatske
- Postimees (Estonia) Eesti teatrid liitusid pöördumisega: loomevabaduse kriis ohustab Euroopa põhiväärtusi!
- Le Figaro (France) Près de 200 théâtres européens lancent un appel contre les « atteintes à la liberté artistique »
- Deutschlandfunk Kultur (Germany) Veranstalter fürchten um Kunstfreiheit
- Népszava (Hungary) Elege van a politikai támadásokból, megoldást sürget a színházi világ
- Theaterkrant (The Netherlands) Open brief aan Europees Parlement: ‘Aanvallen op artistieke vrijheid hebben een absurd niveau bereikt’
- Publico (Portugal) “A liberdade cultural está em perigo”, alerta manifesto europeu face ao avanço da extrema-direita
- N1 Info (Serbia) Pozorišta uputila apel EP protiv „napada na umetničke slobode“
- The Stage (UK) 'Artistic freedom under attack’: EU parliament urged to act
3,975
The Issue
Click here to see the full list of first signatories.
**EN**
Artistic freedom and the autonomy of cultural organisations are under attack in Europe. From bans to layoffs, violent disruptions to performances like at Sofia's Ivan Vazov National Theatre, we’re witnessing red lines being crossed.
Join the unprecedented campaign already uniting over 200 leading voices from 39 countries, representing 180 major national theatres, operas, festivals, and performing arts venues.
It’s time to act: sign the petition “RESISTANCE NOW: FREE CULTURE” addressed to the European Parliament calling for concrete actions such as the establishment of a ‘European Culture Freedom Act,’ asking for a clear positioning of the EU to protect the freedom and autonomy of culture.
This initiative has been launched in collaboration with Milo Rau and the Vienna Festival (Wiener Festwochen) / Free Republic of Vienna, the network of publicly-funded theatres European Theatre Convention (ETC), the Prospero – Extended Theatre platform and the network Opera Europa.
Your voice is vital in this collective effort. We invite you to join us in signing the petition and sending a strong signal of solidarity and vigilance.
**DE**
Künstlerische Freiheit und die Autonomie von Kultureinrichtungen in Europa sind gefährdet. Sei es durch Verbote oder Entlassungen bis hin zu gewaltsamen Störungen von Aufführungen wie im Ivan-Vazov-Nationaltheater in Sofia - wir erleben, wie rote Linien überschritten werden.
Schließen Sie sich jetzt der beispiellosen Kampagne an. Bereits über 200 Erstunterzeichnende aus 39 Ländern, die 180 große nationale Theater, Opern, Festivals und Spielstätten der darstellenden Künste vertreten, stehen hinter dem offenen Brief und den Forderungen an das Europäische Parlament.
Es ist an der Zeit zu handeln: Unterzeichnen Sie die Petition RESISTANCE NOW: FREE CULTURE, die an das Europäische Parlament gerichtet ist. Sie fordert konkrete Maßnahmen wie die Schaffung eines ‚European Culture Freedom Act‘ und die klare Positionierung der EU zum Schutz der Freiheit und Autonomie der Kultur.
Diese Initiative wurde in Zusammenarbeit mit Milo Rau und den Wiener Festwochen | Freie Republik Wien, dem Netzwerk öffentlich finanzierter Theater European Theatre Convention (ETC), der Plattform Prospero - Extended Theatre und dem Netzwerk Opera Europa gestartet.
Ihre Stimme ist entscheidend für diese gemeinsame Anstrengung. Wir laden Sie ein, sich uns anzuschließen und die Petition zu unterzeichnen, um ein starkes Zeichen der Solidarität und Wachsamkeit zu setzen.
**FR**
La liberté artistique et l'autonomie des institutions culturelles en Europe sont menacées. Qu'il s'agisse d'interdictions ou de licenciements, voire de violentes perturbations de spectacles comme au Théâtre national Ivan Vazov de Sofia, des lignes rouges ont été franchies.
Rejoignez dès maintenant cette campagne sans précédent. Déjà plus de 200 premiers signataires issus de 39 pays, représentant 180 grands théâtres nationaux, opéras, festivals et lieux de spectacle vivant, soutiennent la lettre ouverte et les demandes adressées au Parlement européen.
Il est temps d'agir : Signez la pétition RESISTANCE NOW : FREE CULTURE, adressée au Parlement européen. Elle demande des mesures concrètes telles que la création d'un 'European Culture Freedom Act' et la prise de position claire de l'UE pour la protection de la liberté et de l'autonomie de la culture.
Cette initiative a été lancée en collaboration avec Milo Rau et le Wiener Festwochen | Freie Republik Wien, le réseau de théâtres financés par des fonds publics European Theatre Convention (ETC), la plateforme Prospero - Extended Theatre et le réseau Opera Europa.
Votre voix est essentielle pour cet effort commun. Nous vous invitons à nous rejoindre et à signer la pétition afin de donner un signal fort de solidarité et de vigilance.
------
Download the Letter in EN | DE | FR
Dear Members of the European Parliament,
Dear President of the Parliament, Ms. Metsola,
Dear Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education, Ms. Nela Riehl,
We, cultural institutions and artists from across Europe, are alarmed by current cultural policy developments in various EU member states. While the Hungarian cultural sector has already been largely brought into line through new media laws and budget cuts, politically motivated layoffs are currently taking place in Slovakia – to name only the dismissals of the directors of the National Theatre and the National Gallery. The attacks on artistic freedom have reached an almost absurd level in many member states: at the National Theater of Sofia, a play over 100 years old, set in a fictitious Bulgaria, was performed without an audience in its first opening night due to attacks from ultranationalist circles, who physically prevented the viewers to enter the building of the theatre. In Austria, the right-wing nationalist Freedom Party (FPÖ) is threatening to cut funding for “woke” culture – which simply means all culture beyond local music organizations – while in the Netherlands, Geert Wilders' “Freedom Party”, in France the Rassemblement National and in Germany the AfD are pushing for radical cuts in funding for all cultural institutions and efforts that are not “traditional” and “national”. These cuts have already been implemented in many areas, according to the logic that what has been destroyed will not recover quickly.
We are aware that one of the principles of the European Union is not to intervene in the cultural policies of its various member states, but only to support them in “crises and unexpected challenges”, as stated in the EU Strategic Framework for Culture. So let us be clear: culture in Europe is facing just such a crisis. For many months, even years, and in some member states even for a whole decade, cultural institutions have been subjected to a political campaign that restricts freedom of expression and artistic freedom and eliminates everything that does not conform to the political line of right-wing conservative, nationalist party alliances through cuts or bans. These are no random cuts, but betray an orchestrated cultural-political strategy aimed at the disappearance of a diverse European culture that has grown since 1989. “Brussels should lose political significance,” is how the ‘Vienna Declaration’, which Herbert Kickl and Viktor Orbán, the leaders of the two strongest Central European right-wing parties, recently signed, sums it up. Because let's not be deceived: where open, non-partisan, cross-border culture disappears, the European unification and peace project itself will eventually disappear as well.
In view of this, we call on you to address the current developments in the EU member states in the European Parliament and to finally take an explicit stand. Important areas of European culture and transnational cooperation have already disappeared in the face of radical re-nationalization, and important cultural institutions have been filled with compliant bureaucrats - or starved to death - in many countries. In the face of looming cuts, we see self-censorship, fear and depression spreading. We therefore stand in solidarity with artists who have been dismissed or obstructed in their work, and with cultural institutions across Europe that are threatened with closure or have already been closed. Violently preventing a premiere from taking place in front of an audience, as happened in Sofia, is a more than clear warning that too many red lines have already been crossed.
We ask you to address the acute threat to a consistent European cultural policy and to speak out clearly about the attacks, bans, layoffs and cutbacks in the individual EU member states, We must build on the solidarity already shown by thousands of artists and arts organisations across Europe in condemning these brazen attacks on artistic freedom, and in using the power of international networks to multiply potential solutions. Both the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the EU’s Work Plan for Culture 2023-2026 demand protection for artistic freedom. We urge Member States and European institutions to fulfil their responsibilities to these documents – and provide even more safeguards by implementing a ‘European Culture Freedom Act’ as part of the Rule of Law.
Not only the reputation, but the existence of European culture in its diversity is at risk. Europe is based on the openness of the cultural life of the individual countries and their free cooperation. If these disappear, the European project loses its soul and meaning. Please act! It is not too late!
Yours sincerely,
Milo Rau & Artemis Vakianis (Directors, Vienna Festival (Wiener Festwochen) | Free Republic of Vienna, Austria & Member of Prospero – Extended Theatre)
Matej Drlička (Dismissed Director Slovak National Theatre, Slovakia, Member of ETC and Member Opera Europa)
Vasil Vasilev (General Director National Theatre Ivan Vazov, Bulgaria & Member of ETC and Prospero)
Cláudia Belchior & Heidi Wiley (President & Executive Director, European Theatre Convention - ETC)
Serge Rangoni (General Director Théâtre de Liège, Member of ETC & Lead Member of Prospero – Extended Theatre)
Karen Stone (General Director Opera Europa)
Click here to see the full list of first signatories
PRESS COVERAGE about the campaign
72 stories in 24 countries, reaching 80 million readers
Snapshot:
- Al Jazeera (Bosnia) Apel evropskih pozorišta: Protiv napada na umjetničke slobode
- Le Soir (Belgium) Nous appelons le Parlement européen à renforcer la protection de la liberté culturelle
- Nova.bg (Bulgaria) „Съпротива сега: Свободна култура”: Близо 200 национални театъра с кампания след протестите в София
- Jutarnji List (Croatia) ‘Širi se strah‘. Nakon što je bijesna rulja napala predstavu Johna Malkovicha, pobunili su se kulturnjaci, neki su iz Hrvatske
- Postimees (Estonia) Eesti teatrid liitusid pöördumisega: loomevabaduse kriis ohustab Euroopa põhiväärtusi!
- Le Figaro (France) Près de 200 théâtres européens lancent un appel contre les « atteintes à la liberté artistique »
- Deutschlandfunk Kultur (Germany) Veranstalter fürchten um Kunstfreiheit
- Népszava (Hungary) Elege van a politikai támadásokból, megoldást sürget a színházi világ
- Theaterkrant (The Netherlands) Open brief aan Europees Parlement: ‘Aanvallen op artistieke vrijheid hebben een absurd niveau bereikt’
- Publico (Portugal) “A liberdade cultural está em perigo”, alerta manifesto europeu face ao avanço da extrema-direita
- N1 Info (Serbia) Pozorišta uputila apel EP protiv „napada na umetničke slobode“
- The Stage (UK) 'Artistic freedom under attack’: EU parliament urged to act
3,975
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Petition created on 28 November 2024