'The importance of culture has intensified especially during the pandemic': Debate on the Recovery of the Cultural and Creative Sectors and the ERA
Greens members Ufuk Kâhya and Satu Haapanen participated in the debate on the Recovery of the Cultural and Creative Sectors and on the New European Research Area with Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth during the 142nd Plenary Session of the European Committee of the Regions.
Addressing the CoR Plenary Session yesterday, Commissioner Mariya Gabriel emphasised the key role of regions and cities to aid the cultural and creative sectors which have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic. ‘With our joint support, we will make sure that culture can and will play a key role in building a greener, more vibrant and more resilient Europe’, she stated. In his participation, Kâhya commented on the difficult position of the sector; ‘a sector that already had few financial reserves sees all its income disappear at once.’ He proceeded to stress the importance for local and regional authorities in having direct access to the EU funding, as it is at the local level that most added value can be achieved, especially in the daily lives of citizens.
‘The importance of culture and its strong position in people’s daily lives has intensified especially during the pandemic’, opened Haapanen in her intervention. She also applauded the adaptability of the creative sector to new digital solutions that have become accessible to an even larger audience. However, she stated that ‘this does not remove the great concern, constant uncertainty and economic loss that the cultural and creative industries have faced.’ She finished her statement with noticing the importance for cultural institutions to be opened as soon as possible, and to implement measures to support its full recovery so they can be re-established and fulfil their important social role.