6 October 2020
European Alliance of Academies
Conference of European cultural institutions from 8 to 10 October 2020 in Berlin
Invitation to the press conference
Presentation of the manifesto of the “European Alliance of Academies”
Saturday, 10 October 2020, 11 am
Akademie der Künste, Pariser Platz 4, 10117 Berlin
Accreditation at: presse@adk.de
With
Jeanine Meerapfel, President of the Akademie der Künste
Kathrin Röggla, Vice-President of the Akademie der Künste
Robert Menasse, author, member of the Akademie der Künste
Bénédicte Savoy, art historian, professor at TU Berlin / Collège de France
At the press conference next Saturday (10 October), the “European Alliance of Academies” will release its joint manifesto for the freedom of art. The manifesto shall formulate possibilities for action in solidarity and outline the task of ensuring cultural diversity within the European Union in the long term. It is based on the assumption that the independence of artistic positions and institutions from political, national and religious prescription is the foundation of democracy. The manifesto will be the result of the conference taking place in Berlin this week. Around 70 participants from European academies will discuss common strategies to ensure the freedom of art and culture in Europe.
"I can only imagine Europe as an open continent; as a continent that does not shut itself off from the rest of the world. I consider it to be the duty of artists, cultural workers and scientists to contribute to the fight against right-wing radicalism and the ongoing polarisation of society. The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union enshrines the freedom of art and science. The theme of the conference is how we can ensure this freedom together", said the initiator of the conference, Akademie President Jeanine Meerapfel.
Wim Wenders, one of the many supporters of the project alongside Ken Loach, A. L. Kennedy and Andres Veiel, underlines the need for offensive alliances with these words: “There has never been a better moment for creating “A European Alliance of Academies”! An alliance supporting and conveying arts beyond national borders, an alliance defending the freedom of artistic expression and promoting culture as the ultimate and necessary ambassador for tolerance, equality and peace.” The full statement can be read here.
Alliance partners: Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Royal Academy of Arts, Széchenyi Academy of Letters and Arts, L'Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Real Academia Española, Académie Goncourt, Centre Pompidou, Onassis Foundation, and many others.
More information, programme and statements by supporters at: www.allianceofacademies.eu
Supported by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media within the framework of the German EU Presidency
Press contact (on behalf of the Akademie der Künste)
Dorothea Walther | Tel. 030 7700 8798, box@dorotheawalther-pr.de