Cultural relations & diplomacy

24 January 2023

Composing trust podcast #0: A new podcast series on EU international cultural relations 

In the introductory episode presenting culture Solutions’ new podcast programme entitled Composing trust, we frame the discussions of the podcast programme. Our co-founders Felipe Basabe and Damien Helly introduce us to the organisation and its objectives, and share their sources of inspiration and their motivation. They debate the international responsibility of Europeans in building trust between societies, against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine.

22 December 2022

Making the difference: culture Solutions’ recommendations reflected in the 14 December 2022 European Parliament’s Resolution

This blog post looks at the European Parliament’s December 2022 resolution on the implementation of the New Agenda for Culture (2023-2026) and the EU strategy for international cultural relations, and connects its main recommendations to culture Solutions’ past contributions.

17 November 2022

Les nouveaux modèles européens de la culture: l’exemple de Tfanen – Tunisie créative

This blog post was prepared by Damien Helly in the framework of his participation in the 2021/22 session of the Cycle des Hautes Etudes de la Culture (CHEC) of the French Ministry of Culture. This piece looks back at the example of the EU-funded programme Tfanen-Tunisie créative as a source of inspiration to refresh French external cultural action through joined-up EU initiatives.

6 September 2022

Five take-aways for EU institutions and Mondiacult: Voices of Culture Global Dialogue on International Cultural Relations 

Nicole McNeilly and Gabrielle Bernoville reflect in this article on the key themes discussed in the final report published by the invited high-level professionals. They set out their perspectives on possible next steps, emphasising the role of the EU entities in its close partnership with CSOs and the global cultural sector – a topic made even more important in the run-up to Mondiacult.

19 July 2022

1 billion for EU international cultural relations by 2027 

This blog post is the written version of the speech given by Damien Helly at the European Parliament’s public hearing on EU international cultural relations in Brussels on 13 July 2022. It summarises culture Solutions’ analyses on the implementation of the EU cultural relations policy framework and suggests a set of priorities for the EU Council Work Plan on Culture 2022-2025.

20 June 2022

Post-Ukraine Cultural Mediterranean: Still curious? 

Damien Helly summarises his speech at the Naples Conference of the Ministers of Culture of the Mediterranean, where he exchanged ideas on fostering innovation and sustainability, cross-border and regional cooperation, and long-standing partnerships to consolidate socio-economic Resilience of the Cultural and Creative sectors in the Southern Partnership Region.

February – May 2022

First Africa-Europe Week and 6th Europe Africa Business Forum (EABF) 

The culture Solutions training and know-how sharing team was invited to participate in the assessment of the different culture-related events that had a meaningful place in the Week and the Business Forum agenda. In order to reflect on the main takeaways and strengthen future Africa-Europe dialogue events and cultural programming related, the team offers three tips to help reset the AU-EU cultural relations partnership, draws a list of five priorities for Africa-Europe cultural relations programming, envisions the building of new spaces for inclusive cultural relations dialogue, and discusses the main trends in EU-AU cultural relations by positioning them along what we have observed to date with EU and Africa, Caribbean and Pacific relations.

24 February 2022

Act fast: War in Ukraine and EU international cultural relations

“After hearing for weeks that Russia would attack Ukraine, full war does not come as a surprise. While I was wondering what I could do after reading the news this morning, I told myself I had at least to write this unplanned blog post, and be late at work.” writes Damien Helly in his piece posted in the first hours of the war.

18 February 2022

EU-China cultural diplomacy: room for improvement in troubled times? 

This blog by Ina Kokinova looks at the state of play of cultural diplomacy between the EU and the People’s Republic of China. Looking backward at the Beijing Olympics and forward to the EU-China summit in April 2022, the article emphasises the value of cultural cooperation rather than competition, despite the increasing geopolitical tensions.

June 2021 – January 2022

ACP-EU Culture Webinar: Towards a sustainable cultural and creative industry in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries 

After culture Solutions supported the organisation of the international webinar, the first blog by Francesca Pozzebon and Alexandra Gil Táboas aims to inform professionals and operators of the culture and creative sectors, in Europe and beyond, about current trends and opportunities in the ACP-EU Culture programme. The second blog summarises the main take-aways and lessons learned from the seminar, clustered around 5 themes (digital acceleration, CCI economics, access to culture, decent employment and sustainability).

22 January 2022

#FrenchPresidency – Balancing Paris Cultural Geopolitics and EU international cultural relations 

This blog by Pablo Barrios and Gabrielle Bernoville, with Damien Helly, decodes the ins-and-outs of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU. The external cultural agenda of Paris’ presidency is a balancing act between its New Roadmap to influence and revisited EU International Cultural Relations.

1 July 2021

#TeamEurope: A community of practice on culture for EU Delegations

DG INTPA’s Culture Seminars, delivered by culture Solutions, have highlighted the need for a Community of Practice. Read more about how to embed culture across EU’s external actions in this blog post.

20 March 2021

European Spaces of Culture: A blueprint for a Cultural Team Europe 

The EUNIC-led “European Spaces of Culture” have the potential to scale up the six pilot project into a Cultural Team Europe approach. Find out how in this article.

14 and 16 December 2020

Team Europe Worldwide 

After the adoption of the new multiannual budget, EU Delegations are busy with the programming of external action and international cooperation funds for the next seven years. For 5 tips on country-based cultural programming to blow the EU Cultural Breeze see the blog by Damien Helly. Next, we offer you a list of 10 priorities for regional and global cultural programming in the article by Damien Helly.

22 September 2020

Erasmus+ and EU international cultural relations

The international dimension of the EU’s Higher Education Erasmus+ programme contributes to EU international cultural relations. While the next EU budget (2021-2027) is being negotiated this post looks at Erasmus+’ impact and its role in the EU’s public and cultural diplomacy efforts. See the blog by Constance Bobotsi.

30 April 2020

Composing Trust 2019/2020 research report

Our Composing Trust 2019/2020 research report aims to become a reference knowledge resource on EU international cultural relations for the new 2019 European Parliament and Commission as well as for all those who engage with institutions on this agenda. It is divided into 8 thematic chapters, from societal change to the relation between culture and climate, mapping the current framework of the EU’s international cultural relations and what contributed to it.