FilmEU Supports International Open Letter Calling for Stronger EU Investment in Arts, Culture and Artistic Research.
FilmEU joins more than 1,200 European institutions in advocating for the future of arts and culture within the European Union's research and innovation agenda.
At the start of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, more than 300 international representatives from the artistic and cultural research community gathered at the University of Galway for the Society for Artistic Research (SAR) International Forum on Artistic Research.
During the forum, an Open Letter was presented on behalf of the participants and the partners of the #NamePlaceFund campaign, a coalition representing over 1,200 institutions engaged in artistic research, cultural research and cultural heritage across Europe. As a member of this growing European community, FilmEU proudly supports this initiative.
The Open Letter calls on the Irish Presidency to champion the role of arts, culture and the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI) during the ongoing negotiations on the European Union's Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). In particular, it urges European decision-makers to ensure that culture is fully recognised within the next generation of research, innovation and competitiveness programmes, including Horizon Europe and the future European Competitiveness Fund.
The campaign centres on three clear priorities:
- Name culture explicitly within EU research and innovation policies.
- Place arts and culture at the heart of Europe's research and competitiveness agenda.
- Fund culture through dedicated and sustainable investment over the next seven years.
These priorities reflect a shared vision that artistic research is not only a driver of cultural excellence but also an essential contributor to innovation, social resilience, sustainability and Europe's global competitiveness.
For FilmEU, this message aligns closely with our mission of advancing excellence in film and media education through international collaboration, artistic research and innovation. As a European University Alliance dedicated to the future of the audiovisual sector, we recognise that meaningful investment in artistic research strengthens education, empowers creative professionals and generates long-term societal impact.
The Open Letter also highlights the unique opportunity presented by the new MFF to:
- strengthen the role of the arts and artistic research in society;
- invest in the transformative and innovative potential of arts and culture;
- unlock the growth potential of the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries;
- safeguard and celebrate Europe's cultural and linguistic diversity.
By supporting these priorities, Europe can reinforce the creative ecosystem that underpins innovation across sectors while ensuring that culture remains central to addressing the complex social, technological and environmental challenges of the coming decade.
FilmEU stands alongside the international artistic research community in encouraging European policymakers to seize this opportunity and ensure that arts and culture continue to play a central role in shaping Europe's future.
We invite our partners, students, researchers and stakeholders to read the Open Letter and support the ongoing conversation about the future of artistic research and cultural innovation in Europe.
Read the entire letter here
