Founded as an intergovernmental organization immediately after the Second World War, the Council of Europe places generally humanistic and democratic values at the center of its cultural and educational activities.
Conventions are an important tool of the Council of Europe. O European Cultural Convention of May 1955 obliges the signatory states of the Council of Europe to cooperate and creates the basis for the implementation of cultural and educational programs. 50 European states signed the cultural convention and it is still considered one of the few cultural policy documents valid throughout Europe. In addition, Israel, Japan, Canada and Mexico also participate in the Council of Europe’s cultural programs. The Russian Federation was expelled from the Council of Europe in 2022.
Another important convention is this “Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society” (Faro Convention) 2005. Austria ratified the convention in 2015 and published a publication on the current inventory (PDF, 1 MB). Summarizes the text of the convention, provides information on the background, origins and implementation of the Faro Convention and gives examples from Austria.
The areas of responsibility of the “Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape” include the implementation of the relevant conventions of the Council of Europe, as well as the resolutions of the summits of heads of state and government in Warsaw in 2005 and in Reykjavík. in 2023, ministerial conferences for Culture in Moscow 2013, Namur 2015 and Strasbourg 2022. In terms of content, the work focuses on promoting and communicating the importance of European cultural and natural heritage for a democratic and social society, on social challenges such as dealing with climate change, artificial intelligence and intolerance the central importance of culture, heritage and landscape to ensure respect, diversity, tolerance, inclusion and quality of life.
The Heritage Strategy for the 21st Century provides an action plan for the interdisciplinary and participatory design of heritage policy.
The conventions are accompanied by multi-year programs of research and work in cultural policy and by targeted funding projects.
Initiatives and programs
Compendium of Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe
The programme, which was based on an Austrian initiative, is a successful database with reports and analyzes on cultural policy developments in 43 Member States. From 1998 to 2017, coordination was carried out by the Council of Europe. From 2017 to 2020, this was done by the Compendium of Cultural Policies and Trends Association (CCPT), based in the Netherlands. Since 2021, organizational matters have been coordinated by the Bonn Cultural Political Society. Austria is a member of the association.
Compendium of Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe
State-National Cultural Policy Assessment Program
A state-national cultural policy assessment program has been running since 1986, with reports on the cultural policy guidelines, concepts, structures and budgets of countries involved in the European National Cultural Policy Analysis Programme.
Cultural Policy Review Program
Culture Watch Europe online platform
The interactive online platform Culture Watch Europe is the central information interface for the global presentation of the state of cultural policy in the areas of art/culture (Compendium), media and audiovisual media (Audiovisual Observatory) and cultural heritage (HERE).
CultureWatchEurope: Cultural governance observatory
Council of Europe art exhibitions
For more than 60 years, Council of Europe art exhibitions, which have taken place regularly in Strasbourg and the Member States, have not only illustrated Europe’s diverse cultural heritage and eventful history, but also highlighted current artistic positions on sociopolitical changes. in Europe.
In 2021, the digital exhibition “Free to Create – Create to be Free” was created. It offers new insight into the importance of freedom of artistic expression and the role of art, culture and heritage in times when democracy is under pressure from regional and global challenges.
Council of Europe art exhibitions
Free to Create – Create to be Free
European Cultural Routes – “Cultural Route of the Council of Europe”
Since 1987, the Council of Europe has awarded the title “Cultural Route of the Council of Europe” within the framework of the European Cultural Routes project in order to draw attention to and identify historically and socially important transit routes in Europe. Certification as “Cultural Route of the Council of Europe” is a guarantee of quality. The networks implement innovative activities and projects in 5 areas of action: cooperation in research and development, strengthening awareness of European history and heritage, cultural and educational exchanges for young Europeans, contemporary art and culture, cultural tourism and sustainable cultural development.
In order to enable even closer cooperation between Member States, the project, which is managed by the European Institute of Cultural Itineraries in Luxembourg, is based on an Extended Partial Agreement since 2010, of which 37 States are members.
Austria is a founding member. In 2023, there are 48 certified cultural routes in Europe, 14 of which pass through Austria: Mozart’s Trails, European Route of Jewish Heritage, Transromanica, European Route of Cemeteries, Route of Historic European Spa Towns, Ceramics Route, Art Nouveau Route, Via Habsburg, Iron Curtain Trail, Reformation Routes, European Industrial Heritage Route, Via Romea Germanica, Iron Age Danube Route and Historic Café Route.
IN information network (tool of the European Heritage Information Network)
The HEREIN information network (a tool of the European Heritage Information Network) was created with the aim of improving exchanges between the states of the Council of Europe. HERE offers information on individual national cultural heritage strategies, as well as a dictionary of synonyms for vocabulary used in the area of cultural property protection. Austria has participated in this network since 2009 and provides information on monument protection, financing and administrative structures.
IN – European Heritage Information Network
European Heritage Days
The European Heritage Days were created by the Council of Europe in 1991 and have been held jointly with the European Commission since 1999. The aim is to make unknown cultural assets accessible to the public through a variety of events in each country. Austria has participated in this campaign since 1998.
European Heritage Days
Eurimages
The Eurimages film financing fund, created in 1988 as a partial agreement of the Council of Europe, mainly supports the production of feature films, documentaries and animated films intended for theatrical release and conceived as a co-production between at least two member countries. . Furthermore, the distribution of European films and cinemas is supported in countries that do not have access to the European Union’s MEDIA program.
The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Public Service and Sport provides political representation on the Eurimages Board of Directors; concrete support for the project is provided by the Austrian Film Institute.
Eurimages
Contact
European council:
Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Public Service and Sport
Department IV/A/10 – European and international cultural policy
Dr.
Telephone: (+43 1) 71 606 851116
Email: [email protected]
Eurimages:
Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Public Service and Sport
Department IV/A/3 – Film
Mag.A Antonia Rahofer
Telephone: (+43 1) 71 606 851032
Email: [email protected]