Signs of an unstable future for the arts are multiplying. In one-way or another, we are all concerned with getting through the current financial and political challenges. At the same time, it is becoming clear that our world is shifting radically. Instead of focusing on survival strategies, what if we turned our focus to the essential question: how to make this transition process a positive one? How can we rethink and reshape society? What future do we dream of for ourselves, our communities and the arts, and how do we make it real?  We propose a series of three working sessions based on urgent topics the Greek performing arts field is currently confronted with. Each session is meant to produce a concrete result: recommendations for both the IETM delegates and the (Greek) decision makers, to be presented through the course of the meeting.

A Greek colleague will introduce the question. We will discuss it with examples of relevant practice, and dissect and debate it before formulating steps for our positive future together. Each session will close with a list of recommendations.

Arguments and structures we need for sound cultural policy. For many of us, cultural policy was taken for granted as a part of public policy making, until changes such as drastic subsidy cuts or sudden demands of patriotism made us realize that we can’t just sit back and watch. For others, cultural policy has always been a solo enterprise of entering the right circles and having the right contacts. So, what are the core values of a sound cultural policy then? Can we imagine standards that could apply to policy making on a European, national as well as local level? What structures should we create that could be an inspiration or a watchdog for cultural policy? How can we help our politicians “sell” the need for cultural policy within their electorate?