Who we are
The European Expert Network on Culture and Audiovisual (EENCA) was established in December 2015 by a Consortium of Panteia and iMinds-SMIT (VUB) on behalf of DG EAC of the European Commission.
With a view to improving cultural and audiovisual policy development in Europe, the main objectives of EENCA are:
- To contribute to the continuous development of cultural and audiovisual policies by providing high-quality analysis and advice to the European Commission, and enhancing the in-depth understanding of the European Commission’s services of culture and the threats and opportunities faced by the cultural, creative and audiovisual sectors.
- To promote decision-making based on solid, evidence-based and data-driven research, being of a descriptive, analytical, evaluative, and prescriptive nature regarding relevant topics in the field of cultural and audiovisual; and being of a comparative nature, including expertise covering different sectors, different policy areas, and different territories.
For these purposes a multi-disciplinary network of leading European experts on culture and of the audiovisual industry was set-up. The Expert Team consists of high level experts who have been carefully selected to cover a wide thematic, sectoral and geographical range.
EENCA engages in the analysis of the cultural and creative sectors and the audiovisual markets, and the analysis of cultural and creative sectors’ policies and audiovisual policies. The main underlying and guiding questions in this are: what has happened, what is happening and what will happen at local, national and European level, why is it happening, and how can we improve cultural and audiovisual policy development in Europe?
recent publications
themes
SUSTAINABILITY IN CULTURAL HERITAGE
Cultural heritage is both the manifestation of cultural diversity passed down from previous generations and a resource for sustainable cultural, social, environmental and economic development in Europe. Conservation, preservation and safeguarding, research, educational activities and knowledge transfer, financing, participatory governance and contemporary interpretation are key areas that will benefit from a comprehensive strategic approach. During the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, a large number of diverse activities took place all across Europe. To ensure its legacy, follow-up measures and mainstreaming activities need to be developed, including an Action Plan for Cultural Heritage by the Commission. The work of the European Year's national coordinators should be taken into account as well.
COHESION AND WELL-BEING
Access to culture and participation in cultural life promote individual empowerment, democratic consciousness and social cohesion through exchanges with other people and civic engagement. Changing user behaviour due to digitalisation, ageing and culturally diverse societies call for a better understanding of different audiences. A stronger orientation towards the interests and needs of specific groups, such as young people, older people, people with disabilities, people with a migrant background and people living in poverty or material deprivation, is necessary. Digital technologies are an asset for audience development and innovative methods of participation. Cross-sectoral cooperation with other areas, such as education, social care, healthcare, science and technology, and regional and urban development, has a significant effect on cohesion and well-being. Special attention should be paid to the role of culture at local level, to the quality of architecture and the living environment and to culture-led social innovations contributing to the development of cities and regions across the EU.
SUPPORTING ARTISTS, CULTURAL AND CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS AND EUROPEAN CONTENT
Artistic freedom is closely linked to the social and economic conditions of cultural professionals and institutions. The cultural and creative sectors in Europe are characterised by self-employment, small- and micro-enterprises, and cultural and linguistic diversity. Artists and cultural and creative professionals tend to have project-based careers and a high degree of mobility, while they often have an irregular and unpredictable income and combine several jobs to earn a living. Innovation is particularly driven by individual artists, creators and small cultural institutions, whose value creation is mainly based on intangible assets, such as original ideas, know-how and creativity. In order to increase Europe's competitiveness and to stimulate innovation, Europe must build on its creative and cultural assets. The mobility of artists and cultural and creative professionals, the circulation and translation of European content, training and talent development, fair pay and working conditions, access to finance and cross-border cooperation are issues of specific interest for research and exchange at European level.
GENDER EQUALITY
Gender equality is a pillar of cultural diversity. Culture has a key role to play in challenging stereotypes and promoting societal changes. Yet intersectional gender gaps persist in almost all cultural and creative sectors. Women as artists and cultural professionals have less access to creation and production resources, are generally paid much less than men and are under-represented in leadership and other decision-making positions as well as on the art market. These disparities need to be acknowledged and tackled by specific policies and measures. In order to raise awareness at political and administrative levels and within the different sectors, there is a need for comprehensive data and an exchange of good practice.
INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL RELATIONS
Building on the notion that culture is a value in its own right, the international cultural relations of the EU should strengthen awareness of the vital role of culture and its positive socio-economic effects, which address important issues and challenges at global level. A strategic step-by-step approach to international cultural relations followed by concrete actions for its implementation is necessary. Such an approach should entail a bottom-up perspective, encourage people-to-people contacts and promote intercultural dialogue. Full complementarity with Member States' actions and actions carried out by the Council of Europe and UNESCO has to be ensured.
LEGACY OF THE EUROPEAN YEAR OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
European Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage
First-ever European Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage, presented by Tibor Navracsics, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport at the Closing conference of the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 in Vienna on December 7
meet our experts
external links
The EENC has been set up at the initiative of the European Commission Directorate General for Education and Culture. The project comprises a group of high-level experts in the field of cultural policy who provide reports and studies on a range of topics according to requests of the European Commission. The coordination of the network has been entrusted to a consortium led by Interarts and Culture Action Europe following an open call of tender launched in 2010.
Culture Action Europe is a European network of membership organisations, cultural organisations and individuals dedicated to promote culture as a necessary condition for sustainable development both at a local and European scale.
In today’s interconnected world, culture's power to transform societies is clear. Its diverse manifestations – from our cherished historic monuments and museums to traditional practices and contemporary art forms – enrich our everyday lives in countless ways. Heritage constitutes a source of identity and cohesion for communities disrupted by bewildering change and economic instability. Creativity contributes to building open, inclusive and pluralistic societies. Both heritage and creativity lay the foundations for vibrant, innovative and prosperous knowledge societies.
Creative Europe is the EU programme for the cultural and creative sectors for the years 2014-2020. The general objectives of Creative Europe are: (a) to safeguard, develop and promote European cultural and linguistic diversity and to promote Europe's cultural heritage; (b) to strengthen the competitiveness of the European cultural and creative sectors, in particular of the audiovisual sector, with a view to promoting smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.
Music Moves Europe (MME) is the overarching framework for the European Commission's initiatives and actions in support of the European music sector. Developed from a series of meetings with representatives of the music sector starting in 2015, Music Moves Europe was launched as a strategic initiative by the Commission. It has since developed further as a framework for discussions and today it stands for the EU support for music.
Meet our coördination team
get in touch
In case you have any questions or comments on EENCA or its work, please feel free to send us an email at
secretariat@eenca.eu
.