Our services

Founded in 2018, Culture Solutions is a not-for-profit service provider of trust-building space, know-how circulation and information sharing. We produce commons. We focus our services in 5 areas:

  • Information circulation
  • Open & neutral space for dialogue on EU international cultural relations
  • Independent policy analysis and monitoring
  • Training and know-how sharing
  • Assistance to implementation

 

Information Sharing

 

Information sharing

 

Although EU institutions and Member States’ administrations often do their best to inform the public about what they do, their resources and time to communicate externally are limited.

For the sake of transparency and equal access to policy-making, Culture Solutions gathers and shares relevant information on EU policy-making in the field of EU international cultural relations.

We share on social media and this website as well as in dedicated and special events and activities we organise with our partners (see our News pages).

Before creating one, we will first evaluate the need for a specialised newsletter.

 

What we have done so far in this area:

Tfanen
17 November 2022

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

Another blog post from the series derived from Damien Helly’s participation in the 2021/22 session of the Cycle des Hautes Etudes de la Culture (CHEC) (High-Level Cultural Studies Network) of the French Ministry of Culture. This contribution 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. 

billion blog featured
19 July 2022

1 billion for EU international cultural relations by 2027

Find here 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.

Mediterranean blog
20 June 2022

Post-Ukraine Cultural Mediterranean: Still curious?

This blogpost is the last on Africa-Europe Week 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 (ACP) relations. What key topics persist? How have these advanced in the last months?

public-consultation-esrs-comments
20 June 2022

cS Comments #1: Public consultation on the first set of Draft European Sustainability Reporting Standards

The submission draws the attention to the role of culture and cultural diversity in sustainability matters, which remains mostly absent from existing sustainability reporting standards.

aueu4blog
30 May 2022

From ACP-EU Culture Webinar to Africa-Europe Week 2022: five pathways to follow

This blogpost is the last on Africa-Europe Week 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 (ACP) relations. What key topics persist? How have these advanced in the last months?

aueu3blog
30 May 2022

Building inclusive spaces for Africa-Europe cultural relations dialogue

The rise of new voices and calls for a reset of the Africa-Europe political agenda means that new spaces for inclusive cultural relations dialogue could and should emerge. Are you wondering how? Find out in the third blog post of the series.

auweek2
22 May 2022

Africa-Europe cultural relations programming: what’s the agenda

Continuing with the analysis and lessons learnt from the first-ever Africa-Europe Week, we now turn to the five main priorities of any future cultural programming agenda in this thought-provoking article by Nicole McNeilly, Gabrielle Bernoville, Valeria Mesía and Celia Zayas.

EU-AU (2)
11 May 2022

Africa-Europe Week 2022: Three take-aways for the AU-EU cultural relations partnership

After attending the first-ever Africa-Europe Week, we reflect on the cultural aspects of the post-Covid relationship between the EU and its partners in this blog post.

Ukraine featured
24 February 2022

Act fast: War in Ukraine and EU international cultural relations

In the wake of attacks against Ukraine, this crisis-response blog post by Damien Helly looks at the implications of the war in Ukraine for EU international cultural relations. It is sharing ideas on how best the EU and Europeans could take short and long term action to be in line with existing policy commitments and strategies.

China featured
18 February 2022

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

Marking the closing of the Beijing Winter Olympics and looking forward to the EU-China summit, in this blog post Ina Kokinova compares the approaches of the global actors and gives suggestions for building mutually beneficial their cultural relations.

Website blog featured ACP 2
31 January 2022

5 Opportunities for European international cultural relations towards ACP countries, beyond the ACP-EU Culture Programme

Conitnuing with the takeaway from the 2021 ACP-EU Culture programme international webinar, we now look into the lessons learnt and the main topics that emerged from the discussions in this blog post by Alexandra Gil Táboas and Francesca Pozzebon.

Website blog featured ACP
31 January 2022

EU action for culture in Africa Caribbean and Pacific: main trends

Upon the completion of the 2021 ACP-EU Culture programme international webinar, in this blog post our collaborators share the trends and opportunities they identified while facilitating the event.

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Space for Dialogue

Open & Neutral Space for Dialogue

Many Europeans working in external cultural action would like to have more opportunities to learn and share from their peers and colleagues.

Because of the institutional affiliations and mandates or because of the distance existing between officials and cultural professionals and artists, the potential for dialogue and encounters is limited.

Culture solutions creates conditions for exchanges between professionals who rarely have the opportunity to meet and deepen their relationship.

Our team and friends representing Culture Solutions intervene in our own events and/or in our partners’ activities as contributors, curators, co-designers, facilitators, moderators or mediators.

What we have done so far in this area:

Mondiacult
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 on the key themes discussed in the final report of the Voices of Culture structured global dialogue on International Cultural Relations. They set out possible next steps, emphasising the role of the EU entities in close partnership with CSOs and the global cultural sector – a topic made even more important in the run-up to Mondiacult. Read the blog here.

aueu4blog
30 May 2022

From ACP-EU Culture Webinar to Africa-Europe Week 2022: five pathways to follow

This blogpost is the last on Africa-Europe Week 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 (ACP) relations. What key topics persist? How have these advanced in the last months?

aueu3blog
30 May 2022

Building inclusive spaces for Africa-Europe cultural relations dialogue

The rise of new voices and calls for a reset of the Africa-Europe political agenda means that new spaces for inclusive cultural relations dialogue could and should emerge. Are you wondering how? Find out in the third blog post of the series.

auweek2
22 May 2022

Africa-Europe cultural relations programming: what’s the agenda

Continuing with the analysis and lessons learnt from the first-ever Africa-Europe Week, we now turn to the five main priorities of any future cultural programming agenda in this thought-provoking article by Nicole McNeilly, Gabrielle Bernoville, Valeria Mesía and Celia Zayas.

EU-AU (2)
11 May 2022

Africa-Europe Week 2022: Three take-aways for the AU-EU cultural relations partnership

After attending the first-ever Africa-Europe Week, we reflect on the cultural aspects of the post-Covid relationship between the EU and its partners in this blog post.

Website blog featured ACP 2
31 January 2022

5 Opportunities for European international cultural relations towards ACP countries, beyond the ACP-EU Culture Programme

Conitnuing with the takeaway from the 2021 ACP-EU Culture programme international webinar, we now look into the lessons learnt and the main topics that emerged from the discussions in this blog post by Alexandra Gil Táboas and Francesca Pozzebon.

Website blog featured ACP
31 January 2022

EU action for culture in Africa Caribbean and Pacific: main trends

Upon the completion of the 2021 ACP-EU Culture programme international webinar, in this blog post our collaborators share the trends and opportunities they identified while facilitating the event.

Private sector blog featured
25 January 2022

The role of business in promoting culture

Are you a representative of a company concerned with its cultural sustainability? Read our blog post to find out how to boost your role in culture and gain visibility.

copdigital-ft
8 July 2021

#TeamEurope impact: Effective Digital Communities of Practice

After defining what a Community of Practice is, this blog post by our Training and know-how sharing team zooms into the methodology behind building digital European communities that have a global remit and inclusivity at the core.

CoP-blog-ft
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.

yemenblogpost
15 June 2021

Restoring livelihoods through culture in Yemen: lessons learnt

After successfully facilitating the virtual conference “Restoring Livelihoods Through Culture in Yemen”, in this article Nicole McNeilly and Bart Hesseling look into the key themes and future developments for the UNESCO-EU project.

pic 02_sized
20 July 2019

International cultural policies @Avignon OFF

culture Solutions was invited to moderate the round table “International cultural policies: How do institutions create frameworks conducive to developing cultural projects?” at the international theatre festival Avignon OFF. Sandra Coumans reports about it in her blog.

Policy Analysis

Independent policy analysis and monitoring

Even if Culture Solutions, as a social innovation group, is much more than a think and do tank, we also are one, providing non-partisan and evidence-base monitoring and analysis of EU policies in the field of international cultural relations.

Our flagship analytical product is a yearly report on the implementation of EU international cultural relations policies.

We also produce, edit and publish blogs and specific studies by guest authors.

What we have done so far in this area:

cs-brief12-visual-b
26 November 2022

cS Brief #12: Cultural Heritage Protection in crises: strengthening the EU’s role

This brief builds on the debate held at the joint EUISS-cS round table, held on the 12 October 2022 in Brussels, and provides some updates on EU cultural heritage protection in crises and conflict situations, in light of the recent developments in Ukraine and other countries. It takes stock of the European External Action Service (EEAS) first annual report on the implementation of the EU strategic framework on cultural heritage in crises.

Tfanen
17 November 2022

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

Another blog post from the series derived from Damien Helly’s participation in the 2021/22 session of the Cycle des Hautes Etudes de la Culture (CHEC) (High-Level Cultural Studies Network) of the French Ministry of Culture. This contribution 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. 

billion blog featured
19 July 2022

1 billion for EU international cultural relations by 2027

Find here 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.

Digital frameworks featured
17 July 2022

Cadre numérique européen: nouveaux caps culturels à l’international

This blog post in French is part of a series of contributions 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) (High-Level Cultural Studies Network) of the French Ministry of Culture. This piece looks back at the achievements of the 2022 French Presidency of the EU in the field of digital regulation, and at its implications for EU international cultural relations and foreign policy.

Ukraine featured
24 February 2022

Act fast: War in Ukraine and EU international cultural relations

In the wake of attacks against Ukraine, this crisis-response blog post by Damien Helly looks at the implications of the war in Ukraine for EU international cultural relations. It is sharing ideas on how best the EU and Europeans could take short and long term action to be in line with existing policy commitments and strategies.

China featured
18 February 2022

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

Marking the closing of the Beijing Winter Olympics and looking forward to the EU-China summit, in this blog post Ina Kokinova compares the approaches of the global actors and gives suggestions for building mutually beneficial their cultural relations.

Website blog featured FR
27 January 2022

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

Until June 2022 France will lead the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU. The external cultural agenda of #EU2022FR is a balancing act between its New Roadmap to influence and revisited EU international cultural relations. Read our analysis of the ins-and-outs of the French presidency’s cultural ambitions.

COP26 blog
26 December 2021

Learning from COP26: A place for Culture in Climate Action

A month after the closing of COP26, this blog article revisits the discussions, explores the outcomes, and highlights the multiple contributions of culture to climate action.

> More policy analysis

Training

Training and know-how sharing

Life-long learning has become an imperative for everyone in a rapidly changing world.

We will design and conduct specialised training and learning activities to enhance the skills of all those who want to contribute to better EU international cultural relations. By doing so, we will also keep learning from you.

Some will need to learn how to develop the cultural side of their international work; others will benefit from know-how exchange on EU policies and their contributions to them; some will realise they still can learn a lot to work in a truly European way.

What we have done so far in this area:

Website blog featured ACP 2
31 January 2022

5 Opportunities for European international cultural relations towards ACP countries, beyond the ACP-EU Culture Programme

Conitnuing with the takeaway from the 2021 ACP-EU Culture programme international webinar, we now look into the lessons learnt and the main topics that emerged from the discussions in this blog post by Alexandra Gil Táboas and Francesca Pozzebon.

Website blog featured ACP
31 January 2022

EU action for culture in Africa Caribbean and Pacific: main trends

Upon the completion of the 2021 ACP-EU Culture programme international webinar, in this blog post our collaborators share the trends and opportunities they identified while facilitating the event.

IMG_20150308_142813
29 November 2021

culture Solutions closes an eventful year with a gathering in Brussels

In 2021, culture Solutions collaborators organised one physical event, facilitated two webinars held by partners, and spoke at 6 other events. Read more and find the supplementary materials in this blog.

copdigital-ft
8 July 2021

#TeamEurope impact: Effective Digital Communities of Practice

After defining what a Community of Practice is, this blog post by our Training and know-how sharing team zooms into the methodology behind building digital European communities that have a global remit and inclusivity at the core.

CoP-blog-ft
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.

@europeanlabcamp
18 June 2019

The Day After: testing our bottom-up workshop in Lyon

Culture Solutions attended the European Lab Camp in Lyon and implemented a experimental workshop aimed at bridging the gap between cultural practitioners and EU international cultural policies See the blog by Camilla Colombo and Damien Helly.

hugues-de-buyer-mimeure-328729-unsplash
1 June 2019

culture Solutions takes part in its first events

culture Solutions participated in European Development Days 2019, Arty Farty’s Lyon 2019 European Lab Camp and European belonging among young people. Find out more about the worskhops and presentations we made in thisblog.

Implementation support

Implementation support

We are also doers and can contribute to your action by sharing our experience, contacts, networks and advice. We love to create striking emotions across borders through efficient initiatives.

If you:

  • need to design international cultural programmes with a European touch
  • ambition to be funded by the EU for an international cultural initiative
  • wish to cooperate more with other European cultural professionals internationally

come to us and let’s have a chat!