Culture Sector platform, Access to culture

On Thursday, 5th June 2008 the first meeting of European Civil Society actors from the cultural sector took place in Brussels. This meeting is one of the follow ups to the European Agenda for Culture endorsed last November, by the Culture Ministers of the EU Member States on the basis of the Communication presented by the Commission in May 2007.This first-ever Agenda for Culture in Europe launches a new era in the way Member States, European institutions and cultural stakeholders work together in order to respond to some of the major challenges faced by the cultural sector.Three major objectives for the common work of these stakeholders have been identified: promotion of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue; promotion of culture as catalyst for creativity in the framework of the Lisbon Strategy; and promotion of culture as a vital element in EU external relations.The European agenda for culture calls for the culture and creative sector to contribute to this new strategy for culture. Following an information session organised in Brussels on 19 February to which the President Of the Cimetta Funds has participated and the publication of a call for expressions of interest that we have duly submitted. This call gave organisations from the culture sector the opportunity to express their interest in participating in the new culture platforms. The Commission announced us that the our organisation has been invited to the first constitutive meeting of the platforms on access to culture .This first meeting took place on 05th June with the objective to establish a platform's work programme as well as designate its governing bodies (chairperson, secretariat and bureau). Invited organisations have received an invitation and all useful information by email.Through the presence of the Presidency in Brussels, it is our firm intention to continue to participate to this platform for several important reasons:
to secure the place of mobility of artists in the Mediterranean on the agenda of the platform
to ensure the importance reserved to the artistic sector in the Mediterranean in the framework of the European external relations
To give voice to Mediterranean cultural operators who can't for evident reasons attend the meetings of the platform in Brussels.
I therefore suggest to all those who wish to contribute indirectly to the work of the platform via my person to contact me and send to me suggestions or comment.
As soon as the report of the first meeting will be available I will send it to you.
Judith Neisse

Presentation of EMIRA

EMIRA - Euro-Mediterranean and International Research Association is a Belgian non-profit association. Its founder, Judith Neisse comes from the associative and the consultancy sectors in the fields of culture and rights of women. Convinced of the role of contemporary arts as a vehicle of modernity and democratic values but also the importance of cultural industries as a generator of employment and income, she works with high level experts in order to: 1. Promote the Euro-Mediterranean culture 2. Establish a European service centre for information exchange, meeting, training, advice and representation for artists and cultural creators. 3. Encourage research on working conditions, life and creativity of artists and creators. 4. Promote mutual understanding and links between artists, policy makers and donors.

EMIRA gives itself as the first task of meeting the needs in terms of knowledge and research of key players working in and for the Non-European Mediterranean cultural and artistic fields.

Présentation de EMIRA

EMIRA - Euro-Mediterranean and International Research Association est une association belge sans but lucratif. Sa fondatrice et présidente, Judith Neisse, est issue du monde associatif et de la consultance dans les domaines de la culture et des droits des femmes.

Convaincue du rôle des arts contemporains en tant que vecteur de la modernité et des valeurs démocratiques mais aussi de l’importance du secteur et des industries culturels en tant que générateur d’emploi et de revenus, elle s’est entourée d’experts de haut niveau afin de :

1. Promouvoir la culture euro-méditerranéenne
2. Constituer un centre européen d’information, d’échange, de rencontre, de formation, de conseil et de représentation au service des artistes et des créateurs culturels.
3. Encourager la recherche sur les conditions de travail, de vie et de création des artistes et créateurs.
4. Favoriser la compréhension mutuelle et les liens entre les artistes, les décideurs politiques, les bailleurs des fonds.

EMIRA se donne comme tâche première de répondre aux besoins en termes de connaissances et de recherche des principaux acteurs travaillant dans et pour le domaine culturel et artistique en Méditerranée non-européenne.