The meeting formed part of a wider gathering of the Creative Europe Culture community, held in Brussels from 10–12 June 2026, which brought together more than 170 beneficiaries of Creative Europe funding programmes to exchange experiences, strengthen connections and discuss the future of European cultural cooperation.
Julia Pagel appreciated that the meeting provided an opportunity for European cultural networks to learn from one another, share their experiences and discuss how their activities align with current European cultural policy priorities. Overall, discussions touched on a range of topics, including culture and wellbeing, mental health, and international cultural relations.
The programme also explored the future development of the Creative Europe programme and explored how EU support can better respond to the operational realities of the cultural sector. Participants exchanged views on issues such as administrative simplification, greater flexibility in funding mechanisms, working conditions for artists and cultural professionals, artistic freedom, and access to finance for the cultural and creative sectors.
