Progress made towards EU culture cash boost

Proposals to increase the EU’s culture budget for 2014–2020 by 37% could still become a reality, despite objections from a number of governments. An estimated 300,000 artists would receive funding if the EU member states approve plans for ‘Creative Europe’, a new €1.8bn cultural funding programme (AP246) that will merge current funding programmes for the cultural and creative industries. The proposals received broad support at the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council held in Brussels on 10 May, though a number of governments voiced strong objections to increasing the EU budget for cultural spending at a time when most member states’ national arts budgets are being cut. There was also opposition to the Commission’s proposed loan guarantee scheme for small businesses, an initiative that would support small creative businesses that find it difficult to obtain credit. UK culture minister Ed Vaizey was joined by his German and Dutch counterparts in opposing the proposed spending plans and loan facility, despite having been urged by Lord Roper, Chair of the European Union Committee in the House of Lords, to reconsider his objections. Culture Action Europe, a pan-EU campaign group representing 80,000 people working in the cultural sector, had also urged ministers to back the plan. Culture commissioner Androulla Vassiliou said: “I consider that the intrinsic value of culture and its important contribution to growth and jobs are not mutually exclusive. Our proposed programme is designed to contribute to both the economic and social objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy.”