"I’d like to challenge the European Commission to consider long-term funding for the Arts - not just project-based programmes."

In her interview with Creatives Unite, Eva Broberg, EDN's network manager, calls for a bold rethinking of European cultural policy as the EU develops its Cultural Compass framework. She advocates for the intrinsic value of dance arts, improved working conditions for artists, and sustainable funding models that extend beyond temporary projects.

Contemporary dance is an art form, and as such, it carries societal value. It engages with the most dynamic and progressive dimensions of identity research, inviting us to explore our own identities in relation to the world around us. This process is not abstract; it is embodied. The act of being fully present in relation to other beings becomes essential to understanding who we are and how we relate to society.

The Commission already acknowledges that arts-driven transformation cannot occur without a sustainable working environment. We can create such environments not only through better living conditions and improved working conditions, but also by supporting cultural spaces - critical hubs for artistic creation and community interaction. Education, media, theatres, studios, and public infrastructure are essential to arts and culture.

We must recognise contemporary dance and other art forms not merely as tools for social function, but as powerful social and political voices. To achieve this, we need to build cross-border, intersectional structures that place artists at the centre of shaping Europe’s future.

Image credits: Chunky Move 4/4, photo by Gianna Rizzo