2026 Congress Proceedings

The 2026 ENCATC Congress, “Artists and Cultural & Creative Professionals at the Centre: Rethinking Work, Policy, and Cultural Ecosystems”, took place in Nice, France, from 23–25 September 2026, in collaboration with Université Côte d’Azur.

The 2026 Congress explored how artists and cultural and creative professionals work, develop their careers, and are recognised and supported in a changing social, economic, technological, and policy landscape. Bringing together researchers, educators, cultural professionals, and policymakers, the Congress invited reflection on working conditions, professional development, and the ecosystems that enable cultural and creative work to thrive.

The proceedings bring together a diverse range of research and perspectives on cultural labour, artistic recognition, skills and education, collective organisation, funding and economic sustainability, and the role of culture in addressing social and ecological challenges. Through empirical research, case studies, comparative analyses, and practice-based approaches, the contributions examine how cultural policies, organisations, and educational practices can foster more sustainable conditions for artists and cultural and creative professionals.