Review of cooperation framework between EU countries to improve cultural policymaking
Member States gain in exchanging good practice on how they design and implement cultural policies. This form of cooperation is referred to as the open method of coordination (OMC). Under the OMC, experts from ministries of culture and national cultural institutions meet regularly to exchange good practice and produce policy manuals or toolkits that are widely disseminated across Europe. These actions contribute to enhancing cultural policy design and conduct. However, recent external assessments show that the cultural OMC’s impact on national policy could be improved. The EU-funded OPENCULT (Managing diversity in the EU: The cultural open method of coordination revisited) project examined the structure and functioning of the cultural OMC, and its effects on the cultural policies at national and EU levels. Work began with an overview of the state of the art and relevant existing literature on EU cultural policy, Member States’ cultural policies and the OMC. The OPENCULT project researched and analysed the configuration, development, operation and effects of the cultural OMC through two distinct cycles (2008-2010 and 2011-2014). This was done by conducting interviews with European institutions, Member States’ cultural authorities and cultural OMC participants. It was also accomplished by carrying out an EU-wide survey that targeted domestic authorities, European policymakers, representatives of EU-based cultural bodies and institutions, academics and other stakeholders. Overall, findings show that the cultural OMC does not present target setting, indicator and statistics use, benchmarking or Member States monitoring. It is characterised by a flexible approach, and those who participate commit to sharing information and experience. The process respects Member States’ cultural autonomy, tolerates policy variation, and promotes elective and selective learning across Member States. OPENCULT sought to achieve the widest possible diffusion of its results through networking with academics, researchers, national and EU cultural policymakers, civil society and the general public. Other notable activities include a book, two articles, two workshops, a seminar and a dedicated website. by advancing knowledge on how cultural diversity can be safeguarded in Europe, OPENCULT outcomes should make a significant contribution to cultural policy development.
Keywords
Cultural policies, open method of coordination, OPENCULT
