A Soul for Europe
A Soul for Europe connects and mobilizes citizens and democratic institutions across Europe, fostering a sense of responsibility for the future of Europe and democracy through culture.
At the very heart of the Initiative are 30 outstanding individuals from 20 countries. They form the Strategy Group and work as civil society actors in culture, politics, research and media, at universities or in the business sector. The Strategy Group is responsible for the conceptual development and dissemination of the idea of A Soul for Europe through projects and initiatives.
A Soul for Europe
A Soul for Europe connects and mobilizes citizens and democratic institutions across Europe, fostering a sense of responsibility for the future of Europe and democracy through culture.
At the very heart of the Initiative are 30 outstanding individuals from 20 countries. They form the Strategy Group and work as civil society actors in culture, politics, research and media, at universities or in the business sector. The Strategy Group is responsible for the conceptual development and dissemination of the idea of A Soul for Europe through projects and initiatives.
Berlin Conference 2022
Co-Creating Europe from the Bottom Up!
Together with Stiftung Zukunft Berlin and the civil society initiatives Wir sind Europa (We are Europe) and Cities for Europe, A Soul for Europe is once again organising the 2022 Berlin Conference, titled “Co-Creating Europe from the Bottom Up!”
Together with Stiftung Zukunft Berlin and the civil society initiatives Wir sind Europa (We are Europe) and Cities for Europe, A Soul for Europe is once again organising the 2022 Berlin Conference, titled “Co-Creating Europe from the Bottom Up!”
Berlin Conference 2020
Berlin Conference 2020
Common Responsibilities for a Europe Bottom-up.
A Soul for Europe Conference 2019
Towards A European Citizens’ Convention
Looking back at the A Soul for Europe Conference 2019: Calling for “Alliances of Culture”
At the tenth A Soul for Europe Conference, which took place at Akademie der Künste in Berlin, on 12-13 April, 350 citizens, activists, artists and political representatives discussed how cultural alliances with politics must be established in order to be able to act in the face of European elections and nationalist tendencies. In order to make better use of the specific potential art and culture have to create encounters between people and to thus become more effective for the European project, cultural actors need to forge alliances. Like any alliance, cultural alliances rely on networking and communication, gaining their power from pooling strengths and turning dialogue into action.
Actors of art and culture should form cross-border alliances and thus signal their commitment to Europe that goes beyond artistic work. Artistic contributions by Wolfgang Tillmans (DE/UK), Lena Witkowska (PL), the theatre company Image Aiguë (FR) and Krzyżowa Music (international) showed very impressively what socio-political commitment on the part of art can look like. The workshop programme, developed by 14 civil society and artistic partners, covered topics such as dialogue formats on Europe in structurally weak regions, memory culture, the construction of a European public sphere, the role of women in the EU Parliament and identities in Europe.
A Soul for Europe Conference 2019
Towards A European Citizens’ Convention
In order to make better use of the specific potential art and culture have to create encounters between people and to thus become more effective for the European project, cultural actors need to forge alliances. Like any alliance, cultural alliances rely on networking and communication, gaining their power from pooling strengths and turning dialogue into action.
This conclusion was drawn at this year’s A Soul for Europe Conference, which took place at Akademie der Künste in Berlin, on 12-13 April 2019, six weeks before the decisive European elections.
what we do
Our work is to inspire a deep and positive conversation about Europe, helping a new generation connect to current policy makers – and to influence emerging ones.
Once a year we organise the A Soul for Europe Conference in Berlin. We hold Forums around Europe strengthening the understanding between political, cultural and business opinion formers. As we connect communities, three topics frame our discussions: Culture and Citizenship, Cities for Europe and Culture in an Interdependent World.
We question political assumptions, interrogate decision makers, challenge myopic thinkers. Most of all we argue for closer connections, fresh ideas and compassionate solutions.
what we do
Our work is to inspire a deep and positive conversation about Europe, helping a new generation connect to current policy makers – and to influence emerging ones.
Once a year we organise the A Soul for Europe Conference in Berlin. We hold Forums around Europe strengthening the understanding between political, cultural and business opinion formers. As we connect communities, three topics frame our discussions: Culture and Citizenship, Cities for Europe and Culture in an Interdependent World.
We question political assumptions, interrogate decision makers, challenge myopic thinkers. Most of all we argue for closer connections, fresh ideas and compassionate solutions.
what we can offer
Expertise
on ECoC preparations, “Europeanization” activities, citizens dialogues, events to harvest citizens ideas, …
Contacts
We can provide speakers ourselves or we act as a contact broker, making the link with artists / politicians.
Inspiration
We developed formats for citizens participation, involving the younger generations and bringing culture and politics together.