Advocacy


Trans Europe Halles and its members are active in local, regional, national and international advocacy campaigns and projects all over Europe.

One of the benefits of being part of a network is that your fellow members are ready to help if you find yourself in a tricky situation. During the years, many TEH Members have faced hard times, budget cuts, local conflicts and even eviction. In times like these, the TEH Coordination Office and other members can help coordinate support campaigns and put pressure on local governments and other policy-makers. Problems can often turn into success stories with the support of a strong network!

TEH also supports the Culture Action Europe campaign we are more with the aim to strengthen the support for culture in the EC budget 2014–2020. Read the interview with we are more Campaign Coordinator Emma Ernsth bleow!
Culture Action Europe mobilises with the we are more campaign
Campaign co-ordinator Emma Ernsth explains what it's all about

Text: Marian Söderholm
Published 23 november 2010

Tell us about the we are more campaign and its goals?
The reason why Culture Action Europe decided to launch a campaign right now is because the EU is currently negotiating priorities for the next budget for 2014-2020. The campaign we are more wants to raise the voice of the cultural sector and everyone who cares about culture in Europe. If we want to say something about the role arts and culture should play in the development of our European societies in the next ten years, now is the time!

In 2005-2006, Culture Action Europe ran a campaign called 70 Cents For Culture. The goal was to raise the EU culture programme budget from 7 to 70 cents per EU citizen. The campaign helped contribute to the increase to today’s 13 cents per citizen, which was at least an improvement, and many artists and MEPs supported the campaign.

The context of our new campaign is very different from the time when 70 Cents was launched. We are currently suffering from the aftermaths of a big financial crisis, and many countries are making big cuts in their culture budgets at the moment. Now we have a broader strategy than in the 70 Cents campaign, in that we want to highlight the important role that culture and arts play in human and social development. Culture contributes to improve social inclusion, new research and innovation, and education of the next generation. There are proven positive effects of the impact of arts and culture in many aspects of society, and with the campaign we want to re-think how we use this evidence with fresh arguments when we advocate for arts and culture.

The we are more campaign has two specific policy objectives; firstly a better culture programme that dares to takes risks and experiment. Secondly, earmarked funding for culture within the EU regional development funds. Our exact demands and monetary goals will be finalised in January/February 2011 – my colleagues Ilona Kish and Daphne Tepper are working to develop our position papers right now. The name we are more can be interpreted in several ways, but comes from the will to show that we, both as individuals and arts organisations, are more than meets the eye. We as individuals need more than coal and steel and money. We need more than economic incentives.  


What is your role?
I am the campaign coordinator, working mainly with communication through the website (wearemore.eu). I also work with mobilising the members of CAE and others outside our membership. Ideally, the campaign manifesto that we are preparing will be signed by as many individuals as possible, to show that a critical mass believes in the campaign values and ways of thinking. I also work with fundraising. We are supported by the European Cultural Foundation, which has been very important in the setting up of the campaign. The next step is to look for funding from other foundations and funding bodies, to improve the chances of the campaign’s success.


What can TEH members do?
Increase the visibility of the campaign! On our website everyone can sign up for our newsletter, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, download our logo and other visual materials to print and spread in their local communities. Mention the campaign in various contexts. The more people that know about the campaign, the better.

It is a strategic choice to focus one of the two policy objectives on culture in local and regional development. We want members on local, regional and national level to feel part of this campaign, of a larger movement. we are more is a three-year campaign, and it is an experiment to find ways to keep the interest and the movement going. The manifesto will present members with a concrete tool to take action. There will be a constant dialogue when specific input is needed. We will for instance also ask people to send letters to their Ministers of Culture at key moments, translated into their own language.


What is your dream vision of culture in Europe in 2020?
The current situation in Europe is not very encouraging. Governments are making huge cuts in culture budgets which usually only constitute 0,1-5% percent of a country’s entire budget. In times of crisis we all have to save, but the losses and consequences of disproportionate cuts in culture budgets are very serious. Also, considering the right-wing trends that are evident in Europe at the moment, it is important to refute the notion that art is a hobby for the leftist élite. It is a human right. Human rights documents affirm all individuals’ rights to access to a diversity of cultural expressions.

With this campaign, we are collecting materials and tools that will help strengthen the cultural sector’s ability to act politically, to use existing evidence and develop new ways of advocating. I believe we need to show more solidarity and work together with other movements, such as environmental groups and human rights NGOs and this is also something that we will work on in the campaign. I believe in the goals of the campaign and in the positive effects that a more holistic approach on advocating can have for building a future Europe that is more fair, equal and sustainable.
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