Eurointegration through Art

Eurointegration through Art

European artists, musicians, writers, poets, film-makers, actors, academicians and intellectuals are Ambassadors of culture, who can build bridges between European countries, people and cultures by encouraging and enhancing dialogue and interaction between them, more successfully than politicians. Artists from the countries in the process of European integration should not wait until their countries will be integrated in the EU politically and economically – they should do it through culture and do it right now. Europe is created – now it is necessary to create Europeans. Countries that aspire for European integration should not wait until Europe will come to their borders – they should move forward and become really European. This process has already started, and it is only a question of time when culture and art will become essential components of European integration.
ARS DOR Association with the support of the International Fund for the Promotion of Culture (UNESCO) launches the International Project “Eurointegration through Art” that has mission to contribute through art to the process of European integration. Artists from Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, Latvia and Georgia were selected to become Ambassadors for Eurointegration through art and to express their vision on importance of culture and the role of artist in the process of European integration. Objectives of the International Project “Eurointegration through Art” are: to explore the cultural dimension of the European integration; to explore cultural perspectives of EU enlargement; to define role of artist in the process of European integration.

Integration of new member states in the EU poses several questions: how it will affect culture of the EU neighboring states? Will countries neighboring the EU become isolated from cultural development in EU? New borders of the enlarged European Union should not neglect past and ongoing regional cultural cooperation or cooperation with neighboring countries.

Culture is the true European identity power. In this context the major role of the European artists is to promote through art cultural diversity and preserve common values of Europe.
Intercultural dialogue through art is an important instrument which could facilitate the integration of new countries in the European Union. In this dialogue artists must convince governments and politicians that there is a need in cultural renaissance across Europe. If politicians of European countries will understand this, European integration will not be limited by economic, political, security and other reasons.
It is important to inspire people living in the European Union to actively get in touch with other cultures, both at home and abroad, and thus to contribute to tolerance and mutual respect which are conditions for existence of Europe.

Ghenadie Sontu, Chisinau, Moldova
Director of Project