Making (s)under pressure: Culture Council calls for active protection of artistic freedom

Artistic freedom is one of the pillars of our democratic rule of law. It has an essential function in an open society. Therefore, that freedom must be actively nurtured and protected. The Council for Culture states in its opinion Making (z)under pressure that here lies a task for politics, the sector and education. For instance, artistic freedom can be legally enshrined, institutions can promote their public interest even more, and art schools should prepare students well for discussion about their work.

In recent years, the Culture Council received signals from creators and institutions that their work is increasingly becoming the subject of sharp debate. They experience increasing pressure on artistic freedom, ranging from discussions on programming to intimidation and threats. The council calls this a worrying development that is not unique to the arts, but is also visible in other social domains such as the judiciary, journalism and science.

In the advice, the council calls on politicians and governments to actively protect artistic freedom. Although many safeguards are laid down in legislation and international treaties, the actions of elected representatives and administrators are also of great importance. The council stresses the importance of government restraint in making substantive judgements on artistic expression, as this increases social pressure on creators.

The Culture Council notes that most incidents occur in the relationship between art and society. Social media plays an important role in this. Debate is part of art and culture, but it becomes problematic when it turns into intimidation, threats or pressure to stop showing art. This can lead to self-censorship and an impoverishment of the public domain.

The cultural sector itself also has an important responsibility. Institutions can continue to propagate the public importance of art, have the conversation with the public and, as an organisation, be prepared for social debate and criticism. Mutual solidarity in the sector and active protection of creators and institutions that come under pressure are essential in this respect.

In addition, the council points to the role of public and education. Art can contribute to understanding differences in perspective and to having social conversations. Making art an essential part of the education curriculum and linking it firmly to citizenship education can strengthen that understanding. Art schools are tasked with equipping artists to participate in social debate.

The advice was prepared by an independent advisory committee chaired by Paul Schnabel and presented to outgoing Minister Gouke Moes of Education, Culture and Science.