Hosted by Bunker – the old Power Station in Ljubljana/Slovenia, the Council of Europe organised a workshop on Artistic Freedom in Europe Today – From the Personal to the Political on 5-6 July, involving some 20 artists from all disciplines and all over Europe.

The event triggered an open exchange on personal experiences and challenges to the right to create freely and have work disseminated; the situation for minority/under-represented artists and cultural workers who often face structural barriers in their work; the role and impact of the media as well as an outlook on the ways in which artists, the cultural sector, governments, and the public can help protect artistic freedom.

The workshop findings will inspire a forthcoming Council of Europe report on the freedom of expression of the arts and culture in Europe and help foster the Organisations’ and other bodies action for the protection and promotion of creativity. The report will further complement the work of the Council of Europe’s Digital Artistic Exposition “Free to Create, Create to be Free” and the recent Manifesto of Freedom of Expression on Arts and Culture in the Digital Era.