The first International Culture Summit attracted ministers and officials representing 37 nations.
Speakers and delegates at the event, which took place in Edinburgh last month, called for a deeper understanding of the positive role that culture can play in people’s lives.
Theatre director Haris Pasovic asked delegates why people create and enjoy art under inhuman conditions, often risking their own lives.
“The answer at which I have arrived is that our need for culture, entertainment and arts is a primary need, as strong as our needs for food, sex and sleep,” he said.
EU culture commissioner Androulla Vassiliou reiterated the case for public funding. “I believe the case for public intervention is as strong today as it has ever been, as the arts do not exist in isolation, separate from the rest of society,” she said.
She added that she hoped there would be agreement on Creative Europe, the EU’s new funding programme for 2014-2020, early next year.
Vassiliou said the programme aimed to help cultural and creative industries “adapt to the challenges of globalisation, exploit the opportunities of digitisation, experiment with new business models and develop new skills”.
The summit was hosted by the Scottish parliament.
Scotland culture secretary Fiona Hyslop said she hoped the city would host another event “possibly in 2014”.
Speakers and delegates at the event, which took place in Edinburgh last month, called for a deeper understanding of the positive role that culture can play in people’s lives.
Theatre director Haris Pasovic asked delegates why people create and enjoy art under inhuman conditions, often risking their own lives.
“The answer at which I have arrived is that our need for culture, entertainment and arts is a primary need, as strong as our needs for food, sex and sleep,” he said.
EU culture commissioner Androulla Vassiliou reiterated the case for public funding. “I believe the case for public intervention is as strong today as it has ever been, as the arts do not exist in isolation, separate from the rest of society,” she said.
She added that she hoped there would be agreement on Creative Europe, the EU’s new funding programme for 2014-2020, early next year.
Vassiliou said the programme aimed to help cultural and creative industries “adapt to the challenges of globalisation, exploit the opportunities of digitisation, experiment with new business models and develop new skills”.
The summit was hosted by the Scottish parliament.
Scotland culture secretary Fiona Hyslop said she hoped the city would host another event “possibly in 2014”.