Creative Europe gets funding boost

The budget of the next Creative Europe programme, running from 2021 to 2027, has been increased by €600m (US$711m), raising its total from €1.4bn to €2.2bn.

Johannes Hahn

The increase comes after the next long-term European Union budget and the budget for temporary recovery instrument NextGenerationEU have both been agreed by the European Parliament and EU Member States.

The total package of €1.8tn includes money for the next Creative Europe programme as the bloc aims to work towards a greener, more digital and more resilient Europe.

Creative Europe is the European Commission’s framework programme for providing financial support to the culture and audiovisual sectors.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said: “Help is needed for citizens and businesses badly hit by the coronavirus crisis. Our recovery plan will help us turn the challenge of the pandemic into an opportunity for a recovery led by the green and digital transition.”

European Commissioner Johannes Hahn, who is in charge of the budget and worked to facilitate the deal since the beginning of the mandate, said the funds “will play an essential role to support the recovery and make sure traditional beneficiaries of EU funds receive the sufficient means to continue their work during these very challenging times for all.”

Earlier this year the UK government confirmed it will not be seeking to participate in the next Creative Europe Media programme, due to start in January 2021, following Brexit.

Since its launch in 2014 and until 2018, Creative Europe had awarded €89.5m to 376 UK-based cultural and creative organisations and audiovisual companies, and helped distribute 190 UK films in other European countries.

UK TV producers received a chunk of this funding, putting it towards content including high-end drama and animated series.

Participation in Creative Europe is not restricted to EU member states, with numerous non-EU countries currently having either partial or full participation.