“Artistic freedom under attack”: Initiated by the Vienna Festival, the European Theatre Convention, Opera Europa and Prospero – Extended Theatre, the leaders of 200 high-profile cultural organisations from across the European Union have collectively raised their voice against an “acute threat” to artistic freedom and cultural autonomy.

By signing the RESISTANCE NOW: FREE CULTURE open letter, they express concerns about the “attacks, bans, layoffs and cutbacks” to cultural institutions that are designed to undermine a “diverse European culture”.

It is an unprecedented drive that connects leading institutions from 39 countries, including all EU Member States, urging the European Parliament to “finally take an explicit stand” on cultural autonomy and implement a “Freedom of Culture Act”.

The open letter (published a. o. in The Stage, Le Soir and Nachtkritik) is launched today 18:30 with a discussion event in Strasbourg, in presence of the initiators of the campaign – Milo Rau, Matej Drlička, Barbara Engelhardt & Heidi Wiley (ETC) – and former French Minister for Culture, Catherine Trautmann.

The discussion will be followed by a performance of the UBU Prize-nominated play Medea’s Children, part of the 10 Days with Milo Rau program organized by Maillon – European Stage.

The Open Letter is available from today for the general public to sign. Join the RESISTANCE NOW! Tour and become part of the largest campaign for European Culture to date!