A major conference empowering artists as shapers of Europe’s tomorrow. Three days of inspiration and debate.
This meeting, held 13–15 October 2025 and co-produced by Europäische Akademie Berlin and the European House for Culture with the support of Felix Meritis Connecting Cultures, is dedicated to empowering artists as active citizens and visionaries for a democratic Europe. When borders are challenged, the voices of art must rise, envisioning a democratic, resilient Europe together.
For the third time, thought leaders and practitioners from the European cultural scene gathered at the European Academy Berlin to discuss art, civic engagement, and democracy for the year 2025 and beyond. This event aimed to emphasize culture as a public good and empower artists as active citizens.
The European House for Culture (EHfC), under the motto ‘The Artist as Citizen’, champions the idea that artists and cultural professionals are fundamental to Europe’s democracy, identity, and societal health—not mere bystanders but vital contributors to civic participation and inclusion. EHfC urges policymakers to firmly embed culture at all governance levels, arguing that culture unites communities, sustains democracy, and fosters a shared European identity.
EHfC emphasizes that culture is never neutral: it acts as a force for defending civic values and dialogue in the face of polarization and democratic fatigue. Artistic and cultural activity should be recognized as essential to a resilient democratic life, with artists acknowledged as active shapers of civic imagination and societal progress.
The organization calls for fair funding, transnational collaboration, and policies that strengthen artists’ visibility, rights, and independence, asserting that artistic freedom is a civic responsibility, not just a privilege. EHfC argues for connecting art to social realities, rejecting institutional isolation, and fostering networks that enable mutual understanding across Europe. Ultimately, the EHfC advocates for a bottom-up, plural European cultural narrative rooted in dialogue, solidarity, and artistic integrity, where artists are recognized as leaders and catalysts of positive change.
https://www.eab-berlin.eu/the-artist-as-citizen-2025-kultur-als-buergerauftrag/
The programme and the list of participants can be found here:
