EU Cultural Strategy Must Prioritize Artist Independence Over Political Image

As EU officials develop a new strategy for international cultural relations, this analysis argues against using culture merely as a tool for projecting governmental power or engineering a positive self-image abroad. The author contrasts this transactional approach with international cultural relations, which emphasize dialogue, reciprocity, and mutual respect. Drawing on over twenty years of experience, including a case study in Ethiopia, the text illustrates how collaborative projects like the Addis Ababa street art festival fostered trust and long-term sustainability through shared ownership rather than imposed narratives. The article warns that viewing compromise as weakness undermines the potential of cultural diplomacy to build bridges where political ties are strained. It urges the European Union to support artists with arms-length independence, ensuring that cultural engagement remains a sphere for genuine people-to-people connections rather than a instrument of soft power politics. The core argument is that credibility and impact arise from the recipients' perspective, not the sender's self-promotion, necessitating a shift towards relational and co-creative frameworks in EU cultural policy.