Second 2022 Meeting

This meeting of the ENCATC Think Tank was the opportunity to discuss these reports, which collectively explored the conditions, challenges, and future directions of the cultural and creative sector in Europe. Contributors presented findings on cultural well-being, mobility, working conditions, and sector measurement, highlighting how these themes intersect. Across the studies, participants noted the need for stronger evidence to inform policy, drawing on large-scale research such as the CultureForHealth scoping review, which screened thousands of studies to assess how cultural interventions relate to health and well-being. Speakers also emphasised the difficulty of comparing cultural sector data across Member States and the urgency of updating methodologies to better capture digital and online cultural activity.

The reports converged on the importance of improving the sustainability of cultural work and mobility. Insights from the i-Portunus research and IFACCA’s study on independent cultural workers pointed to shared challenges: unstable careers, gaps in recognition and support, and the need for greener, more equitable mobility systems. Recommendations across projects called for stronger legal frameworks, new funding models, better support structures, and coordinated policymaking. The presentations underscored the growing interest among policymakers and the necessity of adopting forward-looking cultural policies grounded in social, economic, and environmental responsibility. A short Q&A followed each contribution.