Authored by Elena Polivtseva, who spoke at NEMO’s European Museum Conference 2024 “Can we talk? Museums facing polarisation,” the report situates the performing arts within a wider context of democratic backsliding, rising polarisation, and declining trust in public institutions. It argues that theatre, dance, circus and performance are not merely artistic practices but essential democratic infrastructures as spaces for assembly, dialogue and critical reflection that enable cultural rights and support democratic life.
“Between Rhetoric and Reality: Cultural Rights, Artistic Freedom, and Democratic Resilience” highlights growing pressure on artistic freedom and cultural rights. While global and European policy frameworks increasingly acknowledge culture’s role in democracy, the research finds persistent gaps between commitments and reality. Survey respondents report obstacles ranging from censorship pressures and economic precarity to structural inequalities and reduced mobility. Many also point to self‑censorship, political interference and under‑resourced inclusion agendas that limit equitable participation in cultural life.
Funding emerges as a central point of concern. According to the report, cuts, freezes and shifting priorities towards commercialisation or short‑term outcomes undermine artistic risk‑taking, long‑term community engagement and fair working conditions. Even where cultural budgets remain stable, administrative burdens, delayed calls and unclear criteria weaken the sector’s capacity to plan sustainably.
The study also documents how changes in political climate, such as nationalist, anti‑woke or ideological agendas, affect cultural governance in several countries. These shifts can lead to targeted leadership changes, new institutional structures or funding allocations that indirectly restrict artistic expression without explicit bans.
Barriers to public engagement with the performing arts are also examined. Cost of living, accessibility issues, lack of infrastructure, especially in rural areas, and perceptions that the arts are “not for me” continue to limit participation. Cuts in adjacent sectors such as education or social services further reduce access by weakening support networks that facilitate cultural involvement.
At the international level, the report highlights the importance of EU institutions, UNESCO and other global bodies in upholding cultural rights when national protections become unstable. Emerging policy instruments, such as the proposed AgoraEU programme and the Culture Compass, reflect a growing recognition of culture as a democratic resource, though implementation remains uneven.
To address these challenges, the report proposes actions across four key areas:
- Funding and infrastructure: Ensuring long‑term, equitable and transparent public funding that supports the full cultural ecosystem.
- Artistic freedom and status of the artist: Establishing comprehensive legal frameworks, fair labour conditions and monitoring tools to track violations.
- Performing arts as a democratic resource: Strengthening participation, arts education and community‑based cultural work.
- From symbolism to implementation: Moving beyond declarations to actionable, funded policies aligned with international rights‑based frameworks.
NEMO supports safeguarding independent museums
In 2025, NEMO launched a dedicated webpage to help safeguard the independence of museums. The resource hub brings together a wide range of materials, tools, research, frameworks, and statements to support museums in navigating political challenges while upholding their professional standards and public mission. It also outlines NEMO’s key actions and advocacy efforts aimed at protecting museum autonomy and promoting open, democratic cultural spaces.
- Visit the new webpage Independent museums
