sector behaviour. Whether global doom scenarios are correct or not, joint innovative action which is enthusiastically and positively undertaken by all, is needed to lesson pollution and ensure healthier and more accessible food, air and water. Culture is not the worst sector to pollute, but is increasingly mobilising to improve its own practices on the one hand, and also to make arts projects which bring attention to the problems. Julie's Bicycle1 works with industry leaders, universities and official bodies to create recognised (ecological) industry standards for the music industry whereas arts organisations and artists are making events and work about climate change issues. 2 The new approach which is called for to meet our current and future challenges highlights exploration, experimentation, research and forecasting. This is precisely the artistic approach ‐ it comprises creative intellectual leaps, trial and error, risk‐taking, critical analysis of self and surroundings, a heightened sense of sensitivity and the synergies of collaborating with others. If we are looking ahead to a new respect and a more central place for art and culture policy and programmes in the European Union and within its Member States and public authorities, a focus on 3 main objectives could reinforce the arts and culture sector ‐ not to permit it to be more easily instrumentalised, but to render it stronger, more able to offer and stimulate what it can best give and do, and more able to take part, alongside and in collaboration with other sectors. ‐ Increased opportunities and support for collaboration and networking with the objective to learn from each other and to put the learning to work (between EU countries, between the EU and the rest of the world, between the arts sector and other sectors, between artistic disciplines). 3 What is needed: accessible case studies and support for intersectoral collaboration; improved competences to 'translate' sector‐specific jargon and ways of working; support for learning intercultural competences, individual mobility : both real and virtual. ‐ Strengthening the arts as a “system” supporting the development of a healthy value chain (production chain) in the arts and ensuring that each of its elements inter‐communicate and interconnect, thus ensuring mutual reinforcement. The main elements of the value chain are: education / training, creation (implying process‐based work and risk‐taking), production, diffusion, documentation/ media, informed, critical analysis available to large publics. What is needed: Equal support for development and continuity of all links in the value chain – and ensuring that all links are accessible; an equal and fair socio‐economic statute for artists and arts workers ensuring the same rights and responsibilities and treatment in EU Member States and in neighbouring and third countries, particularly those with whom the EU has agreements. ‐ Ensuring that the art and artists are supported to engage fully as an integral part of society. The doors to understanding and collaboration between sectors, and with a larger public, must be opened on all sides. In other non‐arts sectors: a greater understanding of the arts 1
http://www.juliesbicycle.com/ http://www.2020network.eu/ Mentioned as an objective by the High Level Reflection Group on Youth Mobility in the EU. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/1126&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=fr 2 3
76