In recent years, many European countries have experienced periods where the creative freedom of artists, musicians, and writers has been curtailed, and it is becoming increasingly common for some cultural institutions to self-censor in order to avoid offending political sensibilities. In response to the need to combat the loss of autonomy and creative freedom within the cultural sector, the European Alliance of Academies was created in 2020. This transnational network brings together 70 cultural institutions from across Europe. Its purpose is to preserve and promote artistic freedom of expression on the continent, as well as to foster greater inclusion of the arts and culture on European political agendas.

The dialogue is presented as a continuation of the activity carried out last May by the European Alliance of Academies in Budapest, whose objective was to send a signal for artistic freedom in solidarity with the Hungarian Society of Authors. Szépírók Társasága. Jeanine Meerapfel (president of the Berlin Academy of Arts) noted that the Alliance will continue to press the European Parliament to insist that the Hungarian Government support independent artists' associations.

The ultimate intention is to draw attention to the political mechanisms that, while democratically legitimized, make possible numerous restrictions on artistic freedom, whether in Hungary or in other European countries.

This round table brings together four members of this network, leading cultural entities from Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain, who will discuss the current state of artistic freedom in Europe, as well as the recommendations and initiatives carried out by the European Alliance of Academies to combat the violation of this right.

The meeting will take place on Friday, June 9th at 19:00 PM, at the Caixa Bank Pavilion (25C) of the Madrid Book FairThe event will be in English with simultaneous translation into Spanish.

Roundtable: