Artistic Freedom Now! A panel discussion on the European Artistic Freedom Act
23 Sept 2026, 2 – 4 pm
A joint event organised by the European Alliance of Academies, the Artistic Freedom Initiative and the Resistance Now! Together coalition for the implementation of a European regulation on artistic freedom (European Artistic Freedom Act).
- Location:
Representation of the European Commission in Germany (Europäisches Haus) - ElevatorLimited wheelchair access
- Date:
23 Sept 2026 - Time:
2 – 4 pm - Cooperation(s):
Artistic Freedom Initiative ,Resistance Now! Together ,Representation of the European Commission in Germany - Languages: English
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How can legal and institutional frameworks be established to better protect artistic freedom and the independence of cultural institutions against the backdrop of democratic setbacks, political polarisation, and growing pressure on the cultural sector? This panel discussion explores the dangers of political interference in the cultural sector. The panelists will place current cultural political developments within a European context, identify possible legal and political courses of action, and present and jointly discuss the European Artistic Freedom Act as a potential European solution.
Since the signing of the ‘Bratislava Declaration’ in May 2025, the European Alliance of Academies has been supporting the initiative to establish a European regulation on artistic freedom (the European Artistic Freedom Act), which the institutions of the European Union can use as a legal framework to counter the growing influence of nationalist governments in the arts and culture sector (see statement).
Welcome address by Manos Tsangaris, President of the Akademie der Künste, and Barbara Gessler, Head of the European Commission Representation in Germany
Keynote speech by Sanjay Sethi, Co-Executive Director of the Artistic Freedom Initiative
Panel discussion with Katalin Krasznahorkai, Lead Expert for the Council of Europe’s “Free to Create, Create to be Free” initiative; Milo Rau, Artistic Director of the Vienna Festival (Wiener Festwochen); Heidi Wiley, Executive Director of the European Theatre Convention; and Claudia Roth, Member of the German Bundestag and former Minister of State for Culture and the Media
Moderator: Christian Johann, Director of Europäische Akademie Berlin
A joint event organised by the Artistic Freedom Initiative / Initiative pour la Liberté Artistique, the European Alliance of Academies and the ‘Resistance Now! Together’ coalition, in collaboration with the European Commission Representation in Germany.
