Sign the Petition for the United Kingdom to join the Creative Europe programme from 2027

Following the UK HUB meeting of Culture Action Europe in March, a Europe-wide petition has been launched by the Forum on EU-UK Cultural & Media Relations, calling on the UK Government to formally declare its intention to fully participate in the EU’s Creative Europe programme from 2027.

Find Out More & Sign the Petition

OutdoorArtsUK advocates for UK rejoining the Creative Europe programme

In an interview with Circostrada, Sho Shibata, our Director, described the loss of EU funding as one of the biggest challenges facing the outdoor arts sector today.

The UK must regain access to EU funding programmes such as Creative Europe, Erasmus+, and Interreg. These programmes were not only financial lifelines; they supported artist exchange and infrastructure development, helping artists build lasting relationships across borders. Without them, solving touring barriers addresses only half the problem.

He also highlighted that although the UK rejoined the Horizon Europe Programme, cultural funding was excluded, despite requiring a far smaller financial contribution.

The recently launched sector strategy Wherever You Are, Whoever You Are, The Arts Are Yours: A Strategy for Joy and Belonging for, with and by the Outdoor Arts Sector, developed by OutdoorArtsUK and partners, highlights the importance of international cultural exchange for economic growth, global reputation and artistic innovation. Under Objective 4 the strategy recommends a restrengthening of collaboration with international networks.

Sho Shibata, OAUK Director, presenting at FRESH STREET, JMA Photography

Evidence: The Impact of EU Funding

1 – Policy Evidence from Circostrada

Circostrada and Verena Cornwall’s Policy Brief: The Future of Outdoor Arts in the UK outlines significant challenges to the UK outdoor arts sector, including how loss of EU funding (e.g., Creative Europe, Interreg, Erasmus+) has reduced opportunities for international collaboration and co-creation. Read more

Between 2014 to 2016 alone, Creative Europe grants to UK cultural organisations totalled €57m, 11% of the programme’s entire €520m fund. In the same period, 115 creative, cultural and heritage organisations in the UK were awarded €15m from Creative Europe’s Culture sub-programme. (page 8)

2 – The Growth of Out There Festival

The Out There Festival demonstrates how EU investment helped build internationally recognised cultural infrastructure. Between 2008 and 2020, Out There delivered 22 multimillion EU funded projects, which enabled them to work with over 75 organisations across Europe, facilitating almost 1,000 UK and European artists working across borders. In the early part of Out There, the level of investment it received was crucial in building the infrastructure to present high-quality Outdoor Arts and Circus in Great Yarmouth. The high point was 2014 when Out There was managing a budget of €500,000 for enabling artists to work internationally – that year, Out There brought in 67 companies to the festival, where 32 of them came from Europe and beyond. EU funding was instrumental in transforming the festival into one of the UK’s leading platforms for outdoor arts and circus. Read More

3 – Evidence from Welsh Parliament

The Welsh Parliament report Culture Shock: Culture and the New Relationship with the European Union highlights the cultural consequences of losing EU funding. Witnesses described the loss of European funding streams as a “perfect storm” alongside rising operational costs and domestic funding pressures. Some organisations warned their work could cease entirely without Creative Europe support. Meanwhile, the report notes that the Creative Europe budget increased by 66% to €2.44 billion for 2021–2027, meaning the UK risks falling further behind as European partners benefit from expanding funding and collaboration opportunities. See pages 30 – 35, points 76, 83 & 95.

By exiting EU funding programmes and networks, Welsh cultural institutions are at risk of falling behind, as European counterparts continue to benefit from access to increased funding and cross-border collaboration without the UK. (page 35, point 95)