Ukraine joined EU-supported Creative Europe programme (2021-2027)
Photo: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine
Today, on October 12th, the Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union on the participation of our country in the EU`s "Creative Europe" programme (2021-2027) was signed. Ukraine's participation in the programme will contribute to the development of more dynamic and capable sector of culture and creative industries, spreading of cooperation between professionals, promotion of European values and the "agenda" in Ukrainian society as well as strengthening cultural relations with the European Union.
The agreement between Ukraine and the European Union on the participation of Ukraine in the Creative Europe programme (2021-2027) was signed by Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olga Stefanishina and Vice President of the European Commission, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell in the framework of the EU-Ukraine summit, which was held today in Kyiv.
The EU's Creative Europe programme aims to support and strengthen the competitiveness of the European cultural, creative and audiovisual sectors, as well as the development and promotion of cultural and linguistic diversity and the preservation of Europe's cultural heritage.
For 2021-2027, the programme has a budget of 2.4 billion euros and is implemented under 3 strands:
- "Culture" — covers all sectors of cultural and creative industries, except for audiovisual; support is provided to international cooperation projects, professional networks, platforms for the promotion of European artists and works, mobility of artists and professionals in the field of culture, as well as in the field of book publishing and literary translation;
- "Media" — supports the development and dissemination of audiovisual works: innovative tools and business models, film festivals, distribution of European films, project development, TV and online content, cinema networks, film education and audience development;
- "Cross-sectoral cooperation" — supports the network of national Desks of the programme; supports the news media sector through the promotion of media literacy, quality journalism, freedom of speech and pluralism.
Within the framework of the Creative Europe programme, the greatest achievements in the field of literature, music, architecture, cultural heritage are also marked by European awards, and the actions such as "European Capital of Culture" and "European Heritage Label".
Ukraine participates in all activities of the "Culture" strand. Participation in the "Media" strand is carried out in such areas: "Cluster of audiences: audience development and film education", "European festivals and festival networks", "Business cluster: development of media talents and skills" until December 31st, 2022 and continues after this date in case of providing evidence that Ukraine has brought its legislation in the field of audiovisual media services into line with EU law.
Ukrainian artists and representatives of the creative economy have already participated in Creative Europe programme during 2016-2020 and received grant support. Within the framework of the programme, Ukrainian organizations implemented 38 international projects in cooperation with 117 partner institutions from 29 European countries. Total amount of financial support for projects with the participation of Ukrainian organizations is 5,472,228 euros.
Ukraine has also joined the initiatives supported by the programme, including the European Union Prize for Literature, which was won by Ukrainian author Haska Shyyan in 2019. Also in 2019, the international multidisciplinary festival of contemporary art "GOGOLFEST" became one of the five festivals awarded by the Prize, which is awarded every two years to the most interesting and most creative art festivals in Europe within the project "Europe for Festivals - Festivals for Europe". In 2021, Ukrainian singer alyona alyona won the Music Moves Europe Talent Award, which is funded by a pilot programme for music sector support directly by the European Commission. The programme also supports the pan-European i-Portunus mobility programme, which aims to encourage the mobility of artists and professionals in the field of culture. Thanks to it, 33 Ukrainian artists have already been able to receive grants for international travel and cooperation.