Europe & Culture: Back to the Future

Bringing together academics, public intellectuals, policymakers, and cultural practitioners, the seminar examined how culture has shaped European imaginaries and forms of belonging, while also offering critical perspectives on the notions of both ‘culture’ and ‘Europe’.

The first part of the programme examined the historical role of culture in European integration and reflected on the limits and possibilities of cultural cooperation. The second part turned to the geopolitical, technological, and societal transformations reshaping Europe, and considered what new cultural initiatives Europe might need in the future

At a time of increasing polarisation and competing visions of Europe, the seminar asked whether culture can still provide a space for democratic imagination, connection, and shared futures.

The seminar was organised to mark the public opening of the European Cultural Foundation’s archives at the Historical Archives of the European Union. It was followed by a lunch and a visit to the exhibition Building European Belonging: Inside the Archives of the European Cultural Foundation, which highlights both the Foundation’s pioneering work — often anticipating major transitions across the continent — and the enduring relevance of its legacy today.