We want to grow our organisation and we need you!
Join Culture Action Europe!
Our membership is open to organisations, which are legally established according to the laws of their country of origin, and which are adhering to the aims of Culture Action Europe.
Culture Action Europe has two categories of members:
• Full members (cultural organisations, associations and networks)
• Associate members (national/regional or “arm’s-length” organisations)
Download here the membership forms to become a full member or an associate member.
Why become a member of Culture Action Europe?
If we work as a coalition of cultural interests at European level we will be more informed, we will formulate better policy recommendations, we will make a stronger case for the sector and will be listened to by decision makers at different levels. We are stronger if we work together.
Members are the driving force of Culture Action Europe, for the following reasons:
• You help us to prepare common positions for priority areas
• You are key to mobilising European policy changes
• You keep information and activism flowing back and forth
• You keep our work grounded in the daily practical reality of arts and culture
How does Culture Action Europe work?
We work with the Executive Committee of Culture Action Europe (elected from the membership) to define a mid-term and long-term advocacy strategy that will advance support to and the involvement of the Cultural sector in the development of European Union policies.
We maintain direct relationships with the European Commission at all levels, and hold one-to-one meetings with key decision makers on a regular basis throughout the year.
We lobby the European Parliament Culture Committee, with close relationships with key MEPs.
We follow the work of the Council of Ministers and seek to influence the work of the Cultural Affairs Committee through working with our network of national members and partners.
We hold an annual general meeting and every other year a conference open to the public to promote discussion and debate around issues that matter to cultural operators in Europe.
We produce briefing papers for our members, on specific EU initiatives, containing in-depth analysis of current European developments that will impact the cultural sector.
We publish bi-monthly newsletter that is distributed to over 8,000 subscribers, which highlights European level policy developments of interest and promotes members' activities.
We are institutional observers to the Council of Europe and the UNESCO, as well as a driving force in the structured dialogue platforms of the EU.
We have an online community tool on our website which is members only area that provides possibility for online networking and policy consultation, ideas exchange and debating on culture issues.
We send you bi-weekly news digest that scans European News from cultural point of view.
We maintain a website visited by over 20,000 visitors per month, with dedicated space for members' activities and a vast resource of information and intelligence on EU cultural affairs.
How you can work with us?
Decisions made in Europe in the field of culture are taken in consultation with all Member States. To achieve our advocacy goals we need strong partners at national and regional level. Use your Culture Action expertise to build a relationship with, and influence national decision-makers in culture and other policy areas wherein culture is relevant.
- Organise a local or regional meeting around the topic of culture and Europe. The Culture Action Europe office can partner your event with programming support, advice on Brussels-based contacts and bring a European dimension to the debate.
- Make contact with your Ministry of Culture to discuss how it is engaging in the European Policy Agenda for Culture.
- Make contact with the Permanent Representation of your country to the EU – they are involved in the Cultural Affairs Committee of the European Council and have an influence on decisions made.
- If you are running research or publications, Culture Action Europe can help to integrate the outcomes into future advocacy strategies.
- Build up a relationship with an MEP from your country or region. Culture Action Europe can help you through the system and help sharpen your message.
- If you are running a network or an association, make your members aware of your involvement in Culture Action Europe – they can multiply the effect of our actions. Ask the Culture Action Europe office to write a contribution for your newsletter, make a presentation to your board, or participate in a meeting or conference.
What are your benefits from becoming a member of Culture Action Europe?
Becoming a member of Culture Action Europe is a great commitment to changing the way that arts and culture are working in Europe. Through your commitment as a member of Culture Action Europe you benefit from:
- An access to the network of organisations and individuals working in the arts and culture sector across Europe committed to improving culture policy at the European and national levels
- The chance to directly influence cultural policy making at European level by having your say in amending existing work and contributing to ongoing debates through networking and our online community tool
- Updated information on European cultural policy and incisive analysis of developments in the cultural policy field through one-to-one advice, the newsletter and the news digest
- A Members dedicated space on the website – for your events and activities as well as links to your organisation
- Participation in our yearly General Assembly, the use of the Culture Action office space in Brussels for your meetings and the use of Culture Action Europe's library full of resources on cultural issues
How do others benefit from being a member of Culture Action Europe ?
“Culture Action Europe offers a platform for discussion and exchange on policy issues. It has a power to bring forward the concerns of the culture sector and has a voice that is listened to at EU level” European Music Council, Germany, member since 2004
“The reason to be a long-time member of Culture Action Europe revolves around three words: advocacy, networking and information. Culture Action Europe is one of the few consistent and well-organised voices of the cultural sector in Brussels”
The European Association of Conservatoires, The Netherlands, member since 1998
“Slovenia being in 2002 still on the doorstep of entering the EU and as a new member of the EU Culture Programme quite inexperienced in exploiting EU funding opportunities, wanted to explore the potential of the CAE network and make the best use of the support available in order to better perform our task of enhancing international cultural cooperation”
Centre for Contemporary Arts, Slovenian CCP, member since 2006
“The key word in describing the benefits from being a Culture Action Europe member is access – access to information, networking opportunities, regular updating, trained experts and new knowledge”
The Cyprus Centre of the International Theatre Institutes, member since 2009
“We are dealing with cultural, educational and youth related politics on national and regional level on a daily basis. For us it is absolutely necessary to have always the complementary European level in mind because it is also influencing a lot the political developments in Germany”
German Federation of Associations for Cultural Youth Education (BKJ), member since 1999
“Culture Action Europe increases our chances to make our voice heared. As a bonus it also makes lobbying fun, concrete and easy to integrate in your daily working routines”
Trans Europe Halles, Sweden, founding member, since 1992
“Culture Action Europe shows genuine enthusiasm to get directly involved in partnerships with its members and to facilitate the process of European action that is happening on regional or national level. With the intensive involvement of CAE staff, we were encouraged to start the process of advocating for our region at the European level.”
Clubture Network, Croatia, member since 2007
“Conferences and meetings of Culture Action Europe offer the opportunity to meet other members, look “over the rim of the plate” of ones own cultural sector and exchange views and ideas with other sectors, which we find very inspiring.”
Europa Cantat, Germany, member since 2004
“Thanks to various CAE events and regular newsletters we have learned who the main players are and what the trends are in shaping cultural policies on EU level. With CAE support, we have been able to “read between the lines” often very complex, full of jargon EU documents on culture and see what they mean for culture in Poland. Having learned that, we have attempted being active in shaping EU cultural policies ourselves e.g. through lobbying among our local MPs or by sending our suggestions to CAE office”
The Baltic Sea Cultural Centre in Gdansk, Poland, member since 2005
“CAE membership has gained importance for German cultural NGOs as a result of the increased role that cultural politics in Europe, as well as European cultural politics in German politics, has attained in the last few years. CAE offers important platform for information and discussion of the EU politics but also beyond – in the context of the UNESCO convention, in which German NGOs are involved.”
International Theatre Institute, Germany, member since 1995
To apply for Culture Action Europe membership right now click here for full membership or associate membership.
If you have additional questions write to:
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or call: +32 2 534 40 02
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