EU Cultural Policy for Theatre
ETC's EUROPEAN THEATRE PROGRAMME
The European Theatre Convention is dedicated to promoting the vital role of theatre in shaping cultural policies at the European level and globally.
Giving European Theatre more visibility and recognition as part of Europe’s important cultural and creative sector.
The programme and a major campaign will place theatre as a key player within cultural diplomacy and Europe’s external relations. ETC’s Roadshow will also represent European Theatre at major performing arts markets around the world.
Save the Date: 09 July 2025
European Theatre Talks 2025 at Festival d'Avignon
ETC will raise its voice for resistance and artistic freedom during its annual event for policymakers and theatre practitioners at the Festival d'Avignon in France, on Wednesday 09 July 2025 from 10:00 - 12:00.
The event will be followed by the ETC Networking Lunch Reception at 12:30 PM.
April 2025
Freedom, Resistance, and the Role of Culture –with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk
“When freedom is denied, it can powerfully break out through every individual. Our future is unclear, but still not pre-written.”
— Oleksandra Matviichuk, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Head of the Center for Civil Liberties, Human Rights Lawyer
It was a great honour to hear from Oleksandra Matviichuk at our ETC International Theatre Conference hosted by the National Theatre of Greece.
Oleksandra Matviichuk spoke with ETC Executive Director Heidi Wiley about what it means to stand for democracy when everything is at risk.
From the war in Ukraine to the role of culture in resistance, her words are a call to action—and a reminder that freedom is never guaranteed, but always worth defending.
April 2025
New ‘RESISTANCE NOW TOGETHER’ Campaign Unites Fight for Artistic Freedom Across Europe
They aim to divide. We choose RESISTANCE.
The European Theatre Convention joined forces with Milo Rau and Wiener Festwochen for a global campaign for art and democracy.
Democracy is weakening. Independent institutions and artistic freedom are suffering.
RESISTANCE NOW TOGETHER stands up to this: it is an umbrella campaign that links events and performances about art and politics; civil society and the media; and the struggle for democracy in different countries.
The RESISTANCE NOW TOGETHER campaign builds on the success of an open letter to European politicians in Winter 2024, which reached 100.000.000 readers through publications in 26 countries.
Join us - the answer to nationalism has to be diverse and global!
April 2025
'RESISTANCE NOW TOGETHER': Milo Rau and Heidi Wiley on Defending Artistic Freedom in Europe
As political pressures mount across Europe—from budget cuts and censorship to the dismissal of outspoken cultural leaders—artists and institutions are mobilising.
In this timely conversation, ETC Executive Director Heidi Wiley speaks with Milo Rau, Director, Author and Artistic Director of Wiener Festwochen, about the urgent need for unified resistance in the face of escalating threats to cultural autonomy.
Their dialogue traces the origins and ambitions of RESISTANCE NOW TOGETHER, a global movement aimed at safeguarding artistic freedom and resisting nationalism.
Watch the full video or read the interview here
March 2025
EU Culture Compass: Shaping the Future of Culture in Europe Together
ETC Executive Director Heidi Wiley was invited to join the “A New Culture Compass for Europe – Consultation of Cultural Stakeholders” meeting on 20 March 2025 in Brussels, hosted by the European Commission, for an in-person policy exchange with Glenn Micallef, Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture, and Sport.
Heidi Wiley made a clear call to action: "Culture and international collaboration must be safeguarded, strengthened, and promoted at the EU level."
The Culture Compass aims to guide EU policymaking by harnessing the multiple dimensions of culture, ensuring a strong and sustainable future for the sector.
“Culture stands at the heart of European identity, a force driving innovation, adaptation, and societal resilience,” Commissioner Micallef emphasised.
He outlined an ambitious framework for EU cultural policy, highlighting the need for stronger collaboration across member states and institutions, with a European cultural development strategy focusing on:
It was a fruitful and important exchange and an invaluable opportunity to engage with diverse voices from across the sector, alongside representatives of more than 50 organisations from Europe's cultural and creative sectors!
November 2024
Resistance Now: Free Culture
The Resistance Now: Free Culture campaign highlights the urgency of protecting artistic freedom and cultural autonomy in the face of growing political interference across Europe.
Building on the momentum of the European Theatre Talks in Liège and the Resistance Now! Tour, this campaign unites theatres, cultural organisations, and policymakers.
Alarmed by the acute threat to cultural diversity in Europe, the leaders of over 200 cultural organisations have joined forces to call on the European Parliament, with an Open Letter, to “finally take an explicit stand” on cultural autonomy and implement a ‘European Culture Freedom Act’.
As the largest network of public theatres in Europe, the European Theatre Convention (ETC) is at the forefront of this initiative, alongside renowned theatre artist, director, and filmmaker Milo Rau, the Vienna Festival (Wiener Festwochen) / Free Republic of Vienna, the Prospero – Extended Theatre platform and the network Opera Europa.
Central to the campaign is a commitment to highlighting theatre’s role as both a space for open dialogue and a catalyst for meaningful societal transformation.
Download a PDF overview of this major campaign
Learn more and sign the open letter
November 2024
European Theatre Talks: Free Culture - Resisting Political Interference
2024 has been a challenging year for freedom of expression in the arts.
Far-right governments are on the rise around Europe, and increasingly prone to interfering in the running of public institutions – by dismissing directors that they see as too challenging and replacing them with more deferential candidates.
This edition of the European Theatre Talks focused on the increasing restrictions of freedom of expression in a European context, with interventions from artists, cultural figures and policymakers that work closely on themes of artistic freedom and democracy.
September 2024
European Cultural Sector Issues Joint Call for Artistic Freedom and Autonomy of the Arts
ETC Executive Director Heidi Wiley and ETC President Cláudia Belchior were in Brussels on 24 September for the presentation of a statement by the wide European cultural sector to Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and the European Commission.
The statement, released in the name of the cultural network Culture Action Europe (CAE), was jointly prepared by ETC alongside CAE, Pearle*, and Opera Europa, and urges European politicians to adequately protect freedom of expression for artists.
Read & share the full statement
This is a situation that ETC is closely monitoring and has already brought up to different platforms, including the Festival d'Avignon (France), CINARS (Canada), STAGES Forum in Dramaten (Sweden)...
August 2024
ETC Calls on European Policy Makers to Protect Independence of Democratic, Cultural Institutions in Slovakia
The Slovak Ministry of Culture’s decision to dismiss the General Manager of ETC Member Slovak National Theatre appears part of a worrying trend by far-right parties across Europe to limit freedom of expression.
Read & share our full statement
June 2024
EU Elections: Support our Statement
Theatres Are Ideal Spaces for Dialogue. Europe Needs Them Now More Than Ever
Read ETC's statement calling on Europe to protect theatres and public spaces that keep freedom of expression alive.
17 July 2023
The Opole Recommendations
The Opole Recommendations are a high-level policy document created as a result of the European Theatre Forum (ETF) 2023.
The Recommendations collect the voice of the wide European theatre sector. They set out theatre's needs, concerns and priorities in a roadmap — outlining changes European institutions should make next year, by 2025, and by 2027.
21 July 2022
European Commission Releases First-Ever Study of Theatres Across Europe
‘The Situation of Theatres in the EU Member States’, prepared for the Commission by leading cultural policy centres PPMI and KEA European Affairs, aims to improve the European Commission’s “understanding of the main challenges facing the theatre sector”, with a particular focus on the individual and institutional impact of the pandemic.
It provides findings across three main areas: The consequences of COVID-19 on the theatre sector;
The challenges to become a professional in the theatre industry; The efforts needed to reduce the carbon footprint of theatre activities.
The study is also a core element of the New European Theatre Initiative, an overall policy structure created by the European Commission to more strategically support the European performing arts, and in particular the theatre sector.
Commenting on the study, Heidi Wiley, Executive Director of ETC, said: "This groundbreaking study is the first time we have a Cross-Europe overview of the composition and challenges facing theatres across the continent. The Commission is to be applauded for responding to calls from the sector to provide more data and help connect a sometimes fragmented industry. The results will be invaluable as we design effective responses to help the theatre thrive and reengage with audiences.
"The announcement of a new European Theatre Initiative and a 2nd European Theatre Forum will also help enormously in this regard and allow us finally shine a light on the exact issues facing creatives in Europe as we continue our recovery from the pandemic."
18 February 2022
Conference on the Future of Europe policy document published.
The European theatre community have made an unprecedented call for policymakers and politicians across the continent to make sweeping changes in support of a “resilient” theatre sector, fit for the future.
A new policy document has been released by the European Theatre Convention (ETC) network of theatres, which counts 42 theatres from 26 countries, urging Members of the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Council of the European Union to support pioneering theatre “that is as diverse as our local communities.”
It adds that policymakers must take steps towards a climate-neutral and sustainable theatre sector” and continue to lead the way “towards accessible theatre in a post-Covid world.”
Read more about the policy document and the 'Conference on the Future of Europe'
Download and read the new policy document
Endorse our “Idea” on the official Conference on the Future of Europe platform
30 October 2021
Conference on the Future of Europe delivers clear message
Leading theatre makers and professionals across Europe have delivered a clear message to policy makers on the continent: Act now to make sustainability and freedom of expression in theatre a reality.
The ETC International Theatre Conference (28-30 October 2021) was one of the few opportunities for European theatres and young artists to contribute as a group to the Conference on the Future of Europe, the new initiative by European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Council of the European Union. This is a commitment to listen to what people and organisations around the continent think Europe should do differently - aiming to deliver its conclusions in Spring 2022.
The first day of the ETC’s conference in Malta collected participants’ thoughts on challenges and good practices developed during the pandemic. On the second day, there was also dedicated space for young people to have their say, via the previously collected ‘Letters to Europe’ presentation. Conclusions will be fed into the Conference on the Future of Europe platform.
11 June 2021
ETC Policy Papers published
Over the course of the four-year ENGAGE programme, funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union, ETC has collected and devised a series of policy recommendations for national and European funders.
These cover the topics of Youth Theatre, Participatory Theatre and Diversity and Inclusion.
Read the policy paper on Participatory Theatre
Read the policy paper on Youth Theatre
Read the policy paper on Gender Equality & Diversity in Theatre
19 March 2021
Secure a Future for Cultural Life in Europe
Following the open letter published by 110 pan-European networks on 30 October 2020 “Make culture central in the EU recovery”, the group comes together again to reiterate their call to the national governments and the European Commission. In the second open letter published today by the group, coordinated by Culture Action Europe, the European cultural community call on the Member States and the European Commission to secure a future for culture and cultural life in Europe.
17 February 2021
Theatre ‘Production Jam’ Risks Creating a Lost Generation of Young Artists, European Directors Warn
Leading theatre directors in Europe are warning that the pandemic shutdowns are not only threatening the long-term viability of theatres—they are also seriously risking the development of the new generation of theatre artists.
Speaking on behalf of 44 major theatres around Europe, the board of the European Theatre Convention (ETC) has stressed that the theatre ‘production jam’ effect—caused by postponing or cancelling an entire season of performances—will all but eradicate the time and space for young artists to perform, direct, and develop on Europe’s stages “for the next 3-5 years”.
The statement comes as theatres across Europe continue to cancel activities through April 2021 in anticipation of a lack of access to audiences. This would mark 14 months of cancellations since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
13 November 2020
The Dresden Declaration
European Theatre and Performing Arts Sector Calls for Urgent Plan to Revive the Arts
Signed by 12 major European theatre and performing arts networks, The Dresden Declaration sets out conclusions from the first ‘European Theatre Forum 2020: European Performing Arts in Focus’ and calls on Europe to urgently create a plan to revive the sector during and after the pandemic.
This 'Consortium' strongly believes that it is high time to establish clear strategies, concrete formats and special tools with which the sector can deepen the dialogue and, in collaboration with EU policymakers, develop the pan-European actions needed to support the European theatre and performing arts sector. The Dresden Declaration defines 8 suggestions on how to start this process with relevant actions. It includes the urgent need to defend the freedom of artistic expression and acknowledges the undeniable power of the arts to open minds and encourage critical reflection.
The document is available in English, French, German and Spanish.
30 October 2020
ETC Calls On Europe to Make Culture Central to Coronavirus Recovery
European Theatre Convention (ETC) has joined up with cultural organisations across Europe to implore the European Union (EU) and EU member states to protect culture as part of the coronavirus recovery plans.
110 networks and associations have pledged their support in a joint letter, coordinated by Culture Action Europe, that urges the EU and Member States to “make sure that culture is placed at the core of each and every recovery plan, which aims at a sustainable, inclusive and future-looking revival of our social and economic life.”
The letter calls for “at the very least 2% of the RRF budgets” to be allocated to the cultural and creative sectors, which should be monitored through the Commission’s assessment of the national recovery and resilience plans.
05 October 2020
InvestEU: Ensuring Support for Cultural and Creative Businesses
Today, 26 organisations from across Europe's cultural and creative sectors wrote to European Commissioners Thierry Breton (Internal Market) and Paolo Gentiloni (Economy) regarding the EU’s flagship investment programme InvestEU.
The programme is facing severe cuts which could have a dramatic impact on the ability of cultural and creative businesses to access much needed affordable debt and equity financing.
14 September 2020
#FreeSZFE: ETC Dedicates its ‘Artist Residency Programme’ to Emerging Hungarian Theatre Professionals
The European Theatre Convention stands in solidarity with the students and professors of the University of Theatre and Film Arts (SZFE) in Budapest.
22 July 2020
European Theatre Forum 2020: European Performing Arts in Focus
"Theatre needs more visibility on a European level." This statement, formulated for the first time in 2017 to the European Commission by ETC, slowly took the way of consultations with key European policy-makers, meetings with other networks, round tables with European stakeholders, until reaching the next promising step: the European Theatre Forum.
The European Theatre Forum will offer, for the first time, a European representation for the entire sector as one of Europe’s major art forms, within and outside Europe. ETC is proud to be coordinating this initiative: Read the official launch press release below to learn more.
14 July 2020
A Call to Invest in All Our Creative Futures
Ahead of the next European Council meeting this Friday 17 July 2020, 45 leading European cultural figures issued a call for the EU to "be bold and to invest in culture and the arts, to invest in all our creative futures.
18 June 2020
ETC & 93 Organisations Are Uniting Their Voices to Alert EU Leaders
Ahead of the European Council meeting on 19 June, ETC and 93 organisations from across the cultural and creative sector are calling for strong and systemic support measures at EU and national level to recover from the crisis.
The letter has been sent on behalf of this group directly to Ministers of Culture, Ministers of Finance, MEPs, commissioners and their services where relevant.
12 June 2020
ETC Theatres Lobby for the Arts in Europe
Save and Support Theatres!
Artistic and cultural diversity are at the heart of Europe’s rich traditions and innovative spirit to create our future. The implications of the Covid-19 pandemic have shaken up our continent and disclosed our weakest points. The cultural sector was the first one to close and is amongst the last to open again. Do we have a lobby for the arts in Europe to safeguard our rich diversity, that is so important for the social health of our continent and the wellbeing of our people?
26 June 2020, 10:30 CET
#CreativesUnite Conference
The first opportunity since COVID-19 for a direct dialogue of the Cultural and Creative Sectors with Commissioner Gabriel, the European Parliament and the Council
Following a virtual meeting of EU Ministers of Culture held on 19 May 2020, Commissioner Gabriel proposed an online conference with the cultural sector, where the main EU policy-makers would meet the CCS stakeholders to reflect on what has been done till now in response to the crisis and to plan together for a new future.
Live transmission of the event will be available to the broader public and can be accessed without registration, directly on the conference webpage.
05 June 2020
Uphold Culture in the EU Budget
We call for a central place for culture in the EU long-term recovery budget. ETC is one of the initial co-signing organisations of this important Culture Action Europe campaign.
15 May 2020
Covid-19 Lockdown Exit Strategy: Europe-wide Dialogue for Coordinated Actions to Unlock Theatres
ETC is gathering proposals and measures developed for each type of venue and cultural activity in theatres. Observing initiatives to exit the lockdown in other areas of society, we are convinced of the need for European exchange to develop coordinated action.
Last update: 29 May 2020
07 April 2020
#RescueTheArts: Plea to National Governments
"Culture is, undoubtedly, part of the solution." We call on national governments to apply the following series of measures and to secure the future of the arts in the long term. Elaborated by IETM and co-signed by ETC with Circostrada Network, In Situ - European Platform for Artistic Creation in Public Space and European Dancehouse Network.
16 March 2020
Coronavirus Pandemic: Theatres in Europe Urge Support from EU and Member States
Statement by European Theatre Convention (ETC), the European theatre network, to urge support from EU and Member States following the coronavirus pandemic. The statement has been co-signed by Mitos21, UTE, EUTSA, Assitej and EAIPA, representing more than 450 European artists and theatrical organisations.
27 November 2019
ETC Welcomes the Change in EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel's Title
The European Theatre Convention (ETC) welcomes President von der Leyen’s announcement during her speech at the European Parliament today that the name of the portfolio attributed to Ms Mariya Gabriel has been changed in order to include Culture, following a large mobilisation from the sector.
25 November 2019
Open Letter to EU Leaders from Europe’s Cultural and Creative Sectors
Investing in our culture is investing in our future: read the open letter from ETC and 90 other cultural institutions.
16 September 2019
Bring #Culture Back
Von der Leyen Commission: the European Theatre Convention (ETC) is very concerned about the absence of a Commissioner for Culture.
03 September 2019
Sectorial Support for Theatre Included in the EU Creative Europe Work Programme 2020
ETC welcomes the inclusion of sectorial support for theatre in the European Commission’s Work Programme for the implementation of the Creative Europe programme in 2020.
9 July 2019
Gender Balance in the Cultural and Creative Sectors
ETC has been selected with 34 other participants to take part in Voices of Culture dialogue on gender balance in the cultural and creative sector.
27 May 2019
Power of the Performing Arts in Europe
The EU is at crossroads today, and and the performing arts have a great power to strengthen its unity and foster the solidarity among its citizens. We support the campaign of IETM, EDN, Circostrada and In-situ to attain a more prominent space for the performing arts in the future of Europe.
03 December 2018
‘Diversity in Action’ - ETC Code of Conduct for European Theatres
ETC Members voted and adhered to a code of conduct principles to ensure equal opportunities and a diverse artistic theatrical expression.
02 December 2018
Call for the Creation of European Theatre Forum & Amendment Proposal for Creative Europe
“We need a strong theatre sector in Europe!” declared together ETC, its members and the six other networks invited to join the debate in Bratislava. Now, just before the European elections and the decisions about Creative Europe in 2021-2017, a mobilisation for a strong and artistic theatre sector is highly needed.
26 July 2018
Ten-Point Reflection on the European Commission’s proposal for a Regulation establishing the Creative Europe programme
Creative Europe, the current EU programme for cultural and creative sectors, has proven its potential to build interpersonal bonds and emotional engagement beyond national frontiers. These are the strongest glue of the European project and the undeniable foundation for a shared European future. Artistic mobility and cooperation across borders are vital when it comes to nourishing mutual understanding, solidarity, and thinking beyond national paradigms. The need for international exchange is insufficiently addressed at Member State level, and some of the current political developments, both within the EU and beyond its borders, even hinder mobility and cross-border partnerships.
20 June 2018
European Commission’s proposal for the EU future budget: ETC sides with the European Alliance for Culture
The ETC and the European Alliance for Culture and the Arts welcome the European Commission’s proposal for the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027, which maintains Creative Europe as a self-standing programme, with an increased budget €1.4 billion to €1.8 billion.
30 May 2018
New Proposals for Europe Cultural Agenda and for Creative Europe Programme
The European Commission released on 22 May 2018 a new European Agenda for Culture. Moreover, the Creative Europe Programme proposal for 2021-2028 has also been released.
09 April 2018
Boosting the European Union Culture Budget - A Call from Europe's Cultural & Creative Sectors
The ETC, Impala and 66 organisations from across Europe’s cultural and creative sectors call on the EU to give a significant boost to its culture budget.
12 February 2018
ETC Supports Culture Action Europe's "1% for Culture" Campaign
Culture Action Europe, the European network of cultural organisations and individuals, launched a campaign fighting for a fair and commited EU culture budget.
22 January 2018
On Stage 2018 – A European Celebration of the Performing Arts
Under the umbrella campaign of the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, the ETC launched a joint campaign with Pearle* and Opera Europa: On Stage 2018.
