SICA paves international way: Artists on the Move

Culture makers and regulatory institutions will discuss concrete measures together, to clear obstructions in mobility. Artists on the Move will take place in Rotterdam and is part of the Dutch EU presidency.

From Culture policies to practical solutions

The Cultural sector increasingly takes part in activities throughout the world. Mobility is the spearhead of the Dutch international cultural policy for the coming years. The subject is even more topical because of the recent entry of ten new member states to the EU. Freedom of movement within Europe is still strongly hampered by barriers regarding visa, work permits, taxes and social security. And where do culture makers find the financial means for international presentations and co-operative projects?

With Artists on the Move, SICA bridges cultural policies and international practices. Participants will be exploring practical solutions under the expert guidance of culture specialists such as Judith van Kranendonk (Director-General ministry of Culture), Stephen Hodes (LAGroup), Dragan Klaic (EFAH), Mary Ann de Vlieg (IETM), Andras Török (Hungary by the Sea), Godfried Wagner (ECF), Dick Molenaar (All Arts) and artist Joep van Lieshout.

During Artists on the Move, concrete recommendations for improvement will be formulated, which will be offered to State Secretary for Culture Van der Laan as a preparation for the meeting of European Ministers of Culture in Brussels on 15 and 16 November 2004.

SICA and international cultural policies

SICA is an independent, umbrella information and coordination centre that deals with all aspects of international cultural activities and policies. SICA provides custom made advice via the helpdesk and organises over twenty information meetings and several visitors programmes for foreign culture experts per year. The Cultural Contact Point the Netherlands is part of SICA and gives information on European culture subsidies, in particular on the Culture 2000 programme. In 2003 SICA acted as co-ordination point for Days of Dutch Culture in St. Petersburg. In the same year SICA started the project group Artists and Visa, together with Trans Artists and the Federation for Artists Associations. In the Cultural Policy Document 2005-2008 the Ministry of Culture has attributed SICA a central role in the further development of practical and strategic international cultural policy.

You can find the programme and a short description of the workshops on www.sicasica.nl/nl-eu-2004/