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:

EP resolution
24 December 2022

Contribuer et compter : Les recommandations de culture Solutions reflétées dans la résolution parlementaire du 14 décembre 2022

Cet article de blog examine la résolution du Parlement européen de décembre 2022 sur la mise en œuvre du nouvel agenda de la culture (2023-2026) et la stratégie de l’UE pour les relations culturelles internationales, et relie ses principales recommandations aux contributions passées de culture Solutions.

EP resolution
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.

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) 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.

> More information sharing

Open 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:

@europeanlabcamp
27 December 2022

culture Solutions looks back at the 2022 events

In 2022, culture Solutions was invited to speak at or analyse important public events and co-organised one roundtable. Find out which and access the articles summarising the key highlights in this blog.

EP resolution
24 December 2022

Contribuer et compter : Les recommandations de culture Solutions reflétées dans la résolution parlementaire du 14 décembre 2022

Cet article de blog examine la résolution du Parlement européen de décembre 2022 sur la mise en œuvre du nouvel agenda de la culture (2023-2026) et la stratégie de l’UE pour les relations culturelles internationales, et relie ses principales recommandations aux contributions passées de culture Solutions.

EP resolution
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.

Website blog featured ACP 2
31 January 2022

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

Continuing 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.

> More dialogue

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:

EP resolution
24 December 2022

Contribuer et compter : Les recommandations de culture Solutions reflétées dans la résolution parlementaire du 14 décembre 2022

Cet article de blog examine la résolution du Parlement européen de décembre 2022 sur la mise en œuvre du nouvel agenda de la culture (2023-2026) et la stratégie de l’UE pour les relations culturelles internationales, et relie ses principales recommandations aux contributions passées de culture Solutions.

EP resolution
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.

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) 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.

> 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:

@europeanlabcamp
27 December 2022

culture Solutions looks back at the 2022 events

In 2022, culture Solutions was invited to speak at or analyse important public events and co-organised one roundtable. Find out which and access the articles summarising the key highlights in this blog.

EP resolution
24 December 2022

Contribuer et compter : Les recommandations de culture Solutions reflétées dans la résolution parlementaire du 14 décembre 2022

Cet article de blog examine la résolution du Parlement européen de décembre 2022 sur la mise en œuvre du nouvel agenda de la culture (2023-2026) et la stratégie de l’UE pour les relations culturelles internationales, et relie ses principales recommandations aux contributions passées de culture Solutions.

EP resolution
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.

Website blog featured ACP 2
31 January 2022

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

Continuing 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.

> More training

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!