Are we European yet?

Are we European yet? – Arsenal Emirates Stadium, London 4 May 07

‘Are We European Yet?’ asked the latest CLP Dialogue on Leadership at Arsenal’s Emirates stadium.

Speakers included:
Ilona Kish: Secretary General, The European Forum for the Arts & Heritage
Robert Palmer: Director of Culture and Cultural and Natural Heritage, Council of Europe
Jagtar Singh: Founding Director, The Change Institute

With Baroness Lola Young of Hornsey OBE

‘I must admit,’ said ILONA KISH, ‘I was slightly exasperated by that title. No-one on mainland Europe would ever think of asking that question.’ Speaking in her role of Secretary-General of EFAH (European Forum for the Arts and Heritage), Kish urged the 50-strong audience to investigate their own relationship with Europe. Why was there such a clear disconnection, given that Britain’s advantages should make engagement easier rather than harder? After all, English is the dominant language in Europe; English arts funding is ‘the best in Europe’, its arts have a ready-made international reputation and its artists’ mobility is infinitely higher than artists from say Poland or Moldavia. So why not use all these strengths more, she asked. What were the psychological barriers?

The participants debated the question in separate groups (interestingly, nobody denied its premise) and concluded:
· UK political leadership is anti-Europe
· Few financial incentives to engage with Europe
· Hostile press
· Image of a white Europe conflicts with UK’s multicultural ethos
· Uncertainty whether the DCMS and British Council are partners or gatekeepers

But the disconnection was illusory, said JAGTAR SINGH, Founding Director of The Change Institute. Our legislation is closely tied with Europe’s and globalisation demands that we look beyond our boundaries. Could we identify, he asked people, a distinctive British contribution to cultural leadership in Europe? Two particular strengths were claimed when his question was debated:
· Britain has been more changed by diversity than countries of mainland Europe over a longer passage of time
· It has a sturdy practice of cultural entrepreneurship and creative industries.

ROBERT PALMER, Director of Culture and Cultural and Natural Heritage for the Council of Europe, stretched horizons even further. His section took a wide view of culture, seeing it as including the arts but not stopping there. The CoE had emerged after the Second World War and its foundations had inevitably provided a broad social agenda that also takes in human rights, conflict resolution and the cultural economy.

‘There is no such thing as “a European culture”’, he exclaimed. ‘It’s a culture of cultures, so discourse should focus on difference, diversity and transformation.’ But it was being threatened by a rising counter-discourse that was increasingly stressing national cultures. How, he challenged his listeners, did they, as cultural leaders, respond to this worrying tide of growing nationalism? Did they support artists at risk through persecution? ‘Do we care only about Britain or about the world at large?’

Leadership – in other words – carries responsibility with it, and it stretches far beyond immediate cultural needs. Europe offers the chance to explore a new concept of leadership that goes beyond mere management, and takes advantage of what Palmer termed ‘networked governance’ – a ‘flatter’ and more interactive model that allows more creative engagement. Our responsibility, concluded LOLA YOUNG as Chair, is to recognise and investigate this wider role.