Cultural Rights, Artistic Freedom, and Democratic Resilience Report
Written by Elena Polivtseva, the publication ‘Between Rhetoric and Reality: Cultural Rights, Artistic Freedom, and Democratic Resilience’ examines how performing arts professionals experience artistic freedom, cultural participation, and cultural rights today, offering grounded insights and policy recommendations to inspire meaningful action in Europe and beyond.
Democracy and human rights are under growing pressure worldwide, and culture is increasingly recognised as a cornerstone of democratic resilience. But what does this mean in practice for artists and cultural organisations today? What threats do they face, how can artistic freedom be meaningfully defined and protected, and which cultural rights risk being overlooked? How can policymakers translate ambitious declarations into concrete measures for a sector already strained by both long-standing and emerging pressures?
This report was produced by the Performing Arts Coalition (PAC), established in 2025 by ASSITEJ – Association of Theatre and Performing Arts for Children and Young People, Circostrada – European network for contemporary circus and outdoor arts, EDN – European Dance Development Network, EFA – European Festivals Association, and IETM – International network for contemporary performing arts.
In dialogue with their respective memberships, these networks carried out a survey entitled ‘The Right to Engage with the Performing Arts in Today’s Europe & Beyond’ and organised and documented individual network workshops and panels as part of their annual conferences. These addressed key themes such as artistic freedom, access to cultural participation, and cultural rights. Additional desk research was undertaken to identify broader trends and to further contextualise the insights gathered through the survey and live discussions.