Over 60 art academies and cultural institutions from EU member states, Great Britain, and Norway came together to form an “Alliance of Academies”, initiated by the Academy of Arts in Berlin. Together they stand up for the freedom of art throughout Europe and demand better coordination of cultural policies in the light of the COVID19-pandemic. Read their manifesto below.

THE MANIFESTO FOR AN Open Continent

“In some European countries we are currently experiencing cultural policies that understand art and culture only nationally and are increasingly regulating them. As a result, the autonomy of many academies, museums and cultural institutions is being jeopardized. Together we stand up for the right to freedom of art throughout Europe, which is stipulated in Article 13 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.”

“Art and Culture are essential for a functioning democracy and for social cohesion. We stand for the freedom of the arts as a prerequisite for our cultural, social and political way of life. The independence of artistic positions and institutions from political, national and religious prescriptions is the foundation of democracy.

Being here in Berlin we are particularly aware – as a consequence of the disasters of the 20th century caused by Germany – of the responsibility to think of the EU as part of a transnational cultural (peace) project. We stand for cultural diversity in Europe and in our societies. We want to recall the “blind spots” that the European wars of conquest left in the world, of the colonial power structures that continue to have an impact in many countries today.

We stand with the arts for a humanism that opposes all forms of racism, discrimination and violence. We also defend human rights for those who were not born in Europe but who seek a chance for survival and peaceful coexistence here.

OUR DEMANDS & MEASURES

We call for a unified solidarity between the art and cultural institutions in Europe. Only across all borders can art, culture and science develop in the spirit of the Enlightenment. Only together, we will succeed in maintaining and defending this free space for the future.

We exchange information transnationally and directly on cultural policy developments in our countries and we disseminate the news through our own communication channels and in our own networks.

We support the exchange of art and artists within our institutions, particularly those who may be experiencing socio-political restraints in the exercise of their artistic work or in their freedom of expression.

We demand that art and culture become an integral part of European politics.

We call on politicians throughout Europe to protect and defend the right to artistic freedom and the autonomy of the institutions in accordance with Article 13 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU. And – wherever necessary – to support the art academies and the artists on the advice of our Alliance.”

Participating institutions (overview)

Austria
Akademie der Bildenden Künste Wien
Academy of Fine Arts Vienna

Berufsvereinigung der Bildenden Künstler Österreichs
The Austrian Association of Visual Artists

IG Kultur Österreich
IG Kultur Austria

Belgium
Koninklijke Academie voor Nederlandse Taal en Letteren (KANTL)
Royal Academy of Dutch Language and Literature (KANTL)

Palais des Beaux-Arts de Bruxelles (BOZAR)
Centre for Fine Arts of Brussels (BOZAR)

Koninklijke Vlaamse Academie van België voor Wetenschappen en Kunsten
Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts

Académie royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux-Arts de Belgique
Royal Academy of Science, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium

Bulgaria
Националната художествена академия
National Academy of Art Sofia

Съюзът на българските художници
Union of Bulgarian Artists

Croatia
Akademija likovnih umjetnosti (ALU)
Academy of Fine Arts

Hrvatsko društvo likovnih umjetnika (HDLU)
Croatian Association of Fine Artists (HDLU)

Cyprus
Cyprus Chamber of Fine Arts (E. KA. TE)

Czech Republic
Akademie múzických umění v Praze (AMU)
Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (AMU)

Akademie výtvarných umění v Praze
Academy of Fine Arts Prague

České literární centrum
Czech Literary Centre

Institut umění – Divadelní ústav
Arts and Theatre Institute

Denmark
Det kongelige danske kunstakademi, Billedkunstskolerne
The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts

Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademis Skoler for Arkitektur, Design og Konservering
The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation

The International Center for Knowledge in the Arts

Estonia
Eesti Kirjanike Liit
(Estonian Writers Union)

Eesti Kunstiakadeemia
(Estonian Academy of Arts)

Finland
Suomen Taiteilijaseura – Konstnärsgillet i Finland
Artists’ Association of Finland

Frame Contemporary Art Finland

France
Académie Goncourt

Centre Pompidou

Académie des beaux-arts

Institut de France

Germany
Bayerische Akademie der Schönen Künste
Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts

Sächsische Akademie der Künste
Saxon Academy of Arts

Akademie der Künste
Academy of Arts

European Film Academy

Villa Aurora & Thomas Mann House e.V

Universität der Künste Berlin
University of the Arts Berlin

Greece
Onassis Foundation

ΕΠΙΜΕΛΗΤΗΡΙΟ ΕΙΚΑΣΤΙΚΩΝ ΤΕΧΝΩΝ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ
Chamber of Fine Arts of Greece

Hungary
Széchenyi Irodalmi és Művészeti Akadémia Széchenyi
Academy of Letters and Arts

Szépírók Társasága
Society of Hungarian Authors

Ireland
Royal Hiberian Academy

Italy
Accademia delle Arti del Disegno
Academy of the Arts of Drawing

Accademia Nazionale di San Luca
Academy of San Luke

L’Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei
The National Academy of Lincei

Latvia
Latvijas Mākslas akadēmija
Art Academy of Latvia

Lithuania
Vilniaus dailės akademijos
Vilnius Academy of Arts

Lietuvos dailininkų sąjunga
Lithuanian Artists’ Association (LAA)

Luxembourg
D’Filmakademie Luxembourg
Luxembourg Film Academy

Institut Grand-Ducal de Luxembourg Section des Arts et des Lettres
Institut Grand-Ducal de Luxembourg Section of Arts and Letters

Institut Pierre Werner Luxembourg

Netherlands
Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen (KNAW)
Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences

Norway
Kunsthøgskolen i Oslo
Oslo National Academy of the Arts

Poland
Polska Akademia Nauk Komitet Architektury i Urbanistyki (KAiU)
Polish Academy of Sciences Committee for Architecture and Town Planning (KAiU)

Akademia Sztuk Pięknych w Krakowie '
Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts

Willa Decjusza
Villa Decius

Europejskie Centrum Solidarności
European Solidarity Centre

Akademia Sztuk Pięknych w Gdańsku
Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk

Portugal
Fundaçao Calouste Gulbenkian
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

Romania
Academia Română
Romanian Academy
Romanian Association of Contemporary Art (ARAC)

Slovakia
Slovenskej Akadémie Vied
Slovak Academy of Sciences

Slovenia
Slovenska akademija znanosti in umetnosti (SAZU)
Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SAZU)

Zveza društev slovenskih likovnih umetnikov
Association of Slovene Fine Artists Societies

Spain
Círculo de Bellas Artes (CBA)
Real Academia Española

Royal Spanish Academy

Sweden
Kungl. Akademien för de fria konsterna (Konstakademien)
The Royal Academy of Fine Arts

United Kingdom
Arts Council

England Royal Academy of Arts

Royal Society of Literature

Royal Scottish Academy of Art & Architecture

Article: Ana-Marija Cvitic

More about the European Alliance of Academies:

www.allianceofacademies.eu

(c) 22/12/2020

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