CreArt European Manifesto

Activities

CreArt European Manifesto

2015-04-13

CreArt, European Network of Cities for Artistic Creation, expresses the absolute need for Europe to become committed to the development of a new space for creation, based on the principles of inter-territoriality and the collaboration among all the agents of the creative process: artists, managers, technicians, politicians and citizens in general. The work methodology developed by CreArt is centred on a real exchange of ideas, work in common and a maximization of the benefits derived from the collaboration between public and private institutions from different cities and countries. This methodology is here offered to all those agents interested in making the process of artistic creation a real catalyst for innovation, not only today, but also for the future of our continent.

2. CreArt proposes local policies and communication and development tools which will help artists from around our continent access information. This includes all the resources available to improve their education –Artist in Residence programmes, laboratories, educational centres, courses, and seminars- accessible from anywhere in Europe. It also commits to promote the different exhibition venues of all types where the best works of art can be presented. To make this possible, all the professional options made available by the new technologies will be used.

3. CreArt supports the analysis of our own local experiences to generate new legal frameworks that will favour the cultural life and the creativity of our communities. With public and private financial help, and the correct legal support, new infrastructures and ways of working will surface to improve the cultural life and the quality of the services offered to citizens.

4. CreArt cities believe it is important to strengthen a European awareness of the importance of art and culture in the life of citizens. Events, such as the European Day for Artistic Creativity, contribute to this. Launched by the network and placed at the service of all European institutions, it offers a framework for the organization of activities to bring artists, organizations and citizens closer to the idea of Culture and Art as generators of value.  

5. CreArt considers it necessary that the public policies of the European Union protect Culture as a key element for social and economic development. Especially since it is of vital importance to reach true union within diversity. In this sense, it is necessary to maintain and strengthen all those programmes which support artists and the trans-national mobility of professionals of the cultural sector, together with the international movement of artworks and artistic and cultural products, in line with Creative Europe and the 2020 Horizon.

6. CreArt, aware of the key role that cities –especially medium-sized ones- play in the organization of the European social and cultural systems, contributing to the demographic balance and to the better distribution of the economy in a territory, states its firm belief that Networks of Cities, such as CreArt, are a useful tool for the introduction of European policies with real local impact. In an era in which there is a globalising force, also in culture, Europe must reinforce its own cultural fabric, with real systems and collaboration practices which will respond, from the best practices of our continent, to the challenges that European urban communities face: global versus local; creation/conservation; complexity/simplicity of identities

7. CreArt, which has been made possible thanks to the effort of local communities from different points of Europe and to the support of the European Commission, proposes to continue with the development of new ways of cultural articulation. In complex times such as the ones we are living in now, when traditional schemes are strongly questioned, CreArt Cities manifest their commitment to coordinate policies, activities and work methodologies. Also, to the design of new ways to establish relationships and support creation, from both the public and private sectors, which will help drive, feed and strengthen our territory and European citizenship.

 

We encourage all the cities and European local communities to join this movement!