KLYS wants to emphasize the role of the artistic authors and performers in the European cultural work. It is important that the artistic professionals are given a greater importance in the Culture 2000 programme if it is to be anything more than a culture programme governed by officials. In order to strengthen the position of the artists, KLYS proposes that wordings concerning the following matters are brought into the Culture 2000 programme:
that the cultural policy shall recognize the essential contributions that art and artists give to the quality of life, cultural identity and development of society,
that the programme shall aim to create employment in the cultural field,
that the professionnal artists' associations shall be secured full participation in the decision making process, in the elaboration, development and realization of the cultural policy within the EU as well as nationally,
that the creation of international conventions shall be encouraged in order to protect the authors' and the perfomers' copyright for their work.
KLYS notes that the three cultural support programmes that have existed up till now (Kaleidoscope, Ariane, Raphael) have been taken away and replaced by a the Culture 2000 programme. KLYS realises that this system can have some administrative advantages, but on the other hand, we want to point out that it is very important that positive experiences from earlier programmes are taken advantage of now that the cultural work is entering a new phase. An exempel is for instance the support programme for translation (Ariane) which, especially for the smaller speech areas, is of utter importance. KLYS wants a continuation of the Aristeion prize and a continuation and enlargement of the support system for translations of literature and drama. The Nordic support system for translations instored by the Nordic Council of Ministers serves as a good example. Also within the other art forms KLYS wishes to see more concrete plans. The active cultural life could come up with constructive proposals in this respect for the continuing preparation of the Culture 2000 programme.
Three types of actions are suggested. Of these three, KLYS wants to give priority to the actions a and b: specific innovative and/or experimental actions and integrated actions covered by structured, multiannual cultural cooperation agreements. However, KLYS means that the demand in action b of participation from five countries is unfortunate. Of course, the more countries that can be involved in the network, the better, but in practice a demand for five countries can hinder, for example, smaller organizations in small countries. The supporting of the networks must be elaborated in such a way that also networks with less means can be supported. Therefore, KLYS suggests that the demand is differentiated to comprise cooperations between less than five countries. For translations, of course, the demand must be not more than two countries.
Regarding action c, KLYS is doubtful, since we consider that festivals, "European days" and recognition of cultural personnalities do not have a place in EU's cultural work. KLYS supports some of the proposed measures within action c: the spreading across the borders of cultural events, the European Cultural Capital event and the European prizes in the various cultural fields, for example the Aristeion prize. However, KLYS wants to stress the aim of the Cultural Capital event, formulated by Melina Mercouri: to let the memberstates get to know each others cultures and to help to strengthen the cultural infrastructure in the concerned state. The aim must therefore be to develop and strengthen the cultural creation process and guarantee the cultural dimension in the everyday life, not to put up a false front of festivity behind which everything remains the same.
KLYS considers that the budget of the Culture 2000 programme is too limited and that the proposed measures have to be credible. If the Commission actually wants to say anything with the fine words and proposals that can be read in the programme, more money has to be put into it. In accordance with KLYS' opinion that the number of measures in action c must be limited, KLYS considers that means from action c should be moved to actions a and b.
KLYS also wants to stress the copyright issues. It is of uttermost importance to safeguard the Nordic copyright tradition. Therefore, on every occasion that these issues are brought up to discussion, KLYS desires to see them treated separately.
Finally, when it comes to the integration of culture in the rest of EU's work, KLYS considers that culture must be given the same importance as the environmental issues in the Agenda 21.
For KLYS
Peter Curman
Chairman