Official Opening ECF Archives at the Historical Archives of the EU
28 May 2026
On June 10 2026 the European Cultural Foundation’s archives at the Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU) open up to the public.
On this occasion ECF and HAEU host the seminar Europe & Culture: Back to the Future on the same day. We welcome your presence, on site or online. For both options we kindly ask you to please register via this link.
Another festive element is the exhibition Building European Belonging: Inside the Archives of the European Cultural Foundation opening its doors. The exhibition highlights both our Foundation’s pioneering work — often anticipating major transitions across the continent — and the enduring relevance of our legacy today.
To encourage research into our historical holdings at the HAEU, we will open a new annual Fellowship programme on June 10.
Seminar Europe & Culture: Back to the Future
Bringing together academics, public intellectuals, policymakers, and cultural practitioners, the seminar examines 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 examines the historical role of culture in European integration and reflects on the limits and possibilities of cultural cooperation. The second part turns to the geopolitical, technological, and societal transformations reshaping Europe, and considers what new cultural initiatives might Europe need in the future
At a time of increasing polarisation and competing visions of Europe, the seminar asks whether culture can still provide a space for democratic imagination, connection, and shared futures.
