Mission Statement

A Soul for Europe: Culture, Citizenship, Democracy

A Soul for Europe connects and mobilises citizens and democratic institutions across Europe, fostering a sense of responsibility for the future of Europe and democracy through culture. We connect communities in order to build a common European public space and a culture of proactive citizenship.

In our work, we link all levels of governance with change-makers from the cultural field and civil society, developing projects that ensure Europe makes dynamic use of its cultural assets and creative potential. To realize these projects we work in three core areas: Culture and Citizenship, Cities for Europe, and Culture in a Global World. In our experience, these areas, and the projects we have developed within them, have demonstrated beyond any doubt that culture is a central strategic factor in sustaining and deepening democratic development across the local, regional, national and European levels.

Strategy Group

The heart of the “A Soul for Europe” initiative is the Strategy Group: more than 40 civil-society representatives from over 20 countries from the cultural, political, business, research and media sectors. The Strategy Group is responsible for the conceptual development and dissemination of the idea of “A Soul for Europe” through projects and initiatives.

The link between civil society and the European Parliament

The initiative is supported by an influential Advisory Board chaired by Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament. Other members include Joachim Rogall (Chairman of the Robert Bosch Stiftung’s Board of Management), Erhard Busek (Chairman of the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe) and a number of former and current Members of the European Parliament from different countries and political parties. With the Berlin Conference Steering Committee within the Advisory Board, we continually develop the Berlin Conference. Members are current and former parliamentarians Maria Badia i Cutchet, Tanja Fajon, Monica Frassoni, Jo Leinen, Morten Lokkegaard, Doris Pack, Hans-Gert Pöttering, Hannes Sowboda and Secretary-General of the EP, Klaus Welle.

With the Berlin Conference 2022 behind us, we are happy to have created a place for debates on European subjects, to contribute to a culture of dialogue, and to create synergies for a common bottom-up future of Europe. Conference summary: https://europebottomup.eu/berlin-conference-2022-on-8-and-9-november-co-creating-europe-from-the-bottom-up/ #europebottomup

The summary and videos of the Berlin Conference "Co-creating Europe from the Bottom-Up" are now available 👉 https://europebottomup.eu/berlin-conference-2022-on-8-and-9-november-co-creating-europe-from-the-bottom-up/ @asoulforeurope @europebottomup @SZukunftBerlin @fundacionyuste @CultureVaccine

Thank you @maecenata for this thorough and interesting report! Re-watch the talks here: https://europebottomup.eu/projects/berlin-conference-2022-co-creating-europe-from-the-bottom-up/. #europebottomup https://twitter.com/maecenata/status/1597158428266631169

Nuestro presidente, @mamr_bxl, ha participado esta semana en la Conferencia de Berlín 2022 con @asoulforeurope. Durante tres días se ha analizado cómo la #cultura puede contribuir al proceso de integración europea 💪

#ItineraCarolusV

On the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall it is an honor to address European audience at the @asoulforeurope and #EuropeBottomUp conf. "Rethinking Europe".Shared the story of Latvian&Baltic expressions of civic power in order to strengthen democracy/increase participation

"#Trust is culturally created“ says Rarita Zbranca in a discussion of how trust is built in communities. She noted that Eastern #Europe tends to have lower levels of trust than in the West.

#EuropeBottomUp

We're at the annual #conference "A Soul for Europe" in Berlin, where our colleague Rarița moderates a discussion on rethinking #Europe from the East to the West. @SZukunftBerlin, thank you for having us!

#EuropeBottomUp

Day 2 of Berlin Conference 2022 starts by "Rethinking Europe", hosted by @asoulforeurope. How can culture take an active role in the creation of a more humane Europe? Watch now at https://europebottomup.eu/projects/berlin-conference-2022-co-creating-europe-from-the-bottom-up/ #europebottomup

"Europa de construye desde cada rincón y muy especialmente desde los territorios fronterizos" @Rosbalas en la Conferencia @asoulforeurope

Junta de Extremadura

The first conference day is over. More future perspectives on Europe tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. at Allianz Forum Berlin and online! #europebottomup https://europebottomup.eu/projects/berlin-conference-2022-co-creating-europe-from-the-bottom-up/

LOAD MORE

Mission Statement

A Soul for Europe: Culture, Citizenship, Democracy

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. We connect communities in order to build a common European public space and a culture of proactive citizenship.

In our work, we link all levels of governance with change-makers from the cultural field and civil society, developing projects that ensure Europe makes dynamic use of its cultural assets and creative potential. To realize these projects we work in three core areas: Culture and Citizenship, Cities for Europe, and Culture in a Global World. In our experience, these areas, and the projects we have developed within them, have demonstrated beyond any doubt that culture is a central strategic factor in sustaining and deepening democratic development across the local, regional, national and European levels.

Strategy Group

The heart of the “A Soul for Europe” initiative is the Strategy Group: more than 40 civil-society representatives from over 20 countries from the cultural, political, business, research and media sectors. The Strategy Group is responsible for the conceptual development and dissemination of the idea of “A Soul for Europe” through projects and initiatives.

The link between civil society and the European Parliament

The initiative is supported by an influential Advisory Board chaired by Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament. Other members include Joachim Rogall (Chairman of the Robert Bosch Stiftung’s Board of Management), Erhard Busek (Chairman of the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe) and a number of former and current Members of the European Parliament from different countries and political parties. With the Berlin Conference Steering Committee within the Advisory Board, we continually develop the Berlin Conference. Members are current and former parliamentarians Maria Badia i Cutchet, Tanja Fajon, Monica Frassoni, Jo Leinen, Morten Lokkegaard, Doris Pack, Hans-Gert Pöttering, Hannes Sowboda and Secretary-General of the EP, Klaus Welle.