WRITTEN QUESTION No. 857/97 by Spalato BELLERE' , Guido VICECONTE to the Commission. European funds for drama and operetta productions to be granted to resident theatres or companies
Date: 1997-03-12
Institutions: BELLERE, European Parliament, VICECONTE
Subjects: Community budget, EU aid, EU programme, action programme, cultural policy, financial aid, freedom of expression, performing arts













EUR-Lex - 91997E0857 - EN






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91997E0857

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 857/97 by Spalato BELLERE' , Guido VICECONTE to the Commission. European funds for drama and operetta productions to be granted to resident theatres or companies  


Official Journal C 373 , 09/12/1997 P. 0032 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0857/97 by Spalato Belleré (NI) and Guido Viceconte (UPE) to the Commission (12 March 1997)Subject: European funds for drama and operetta productions to be granted to resident theatres or companiesCan the Commission say whether funding is granted for plays and operettas put on by resident theatre companies and if so which funds are used?Can it say whether it does not consider that the emphasis should be on ensuring the quality rather than the quantity of productions?Does it not consider that a directive should be issued laying down general guidelines on the subject for the Member States?Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (28 April 1997)The Commission would point out that it is in the framework of Community action in the field of culture, subject to the conditions of existing programmes and preparatory initiatives, that cultural projects such as drama and operatic productions can benefit from Community support.Each year, the Kaleidoscope programme (Decision 719/96/EC) ((OJ L 99, 20.4.1996. )) provides support for several projects relating to the performing arts, such as shows, training projects or projects emerging from European networks aimed at improving the quality of cooperation and exchanges between European theatres and professionals in the field.As an example, 45 projects in the field of the theatre and six relating to the opera received support under budget heading B3-2001 in 1996 ((Selected multidisciplinary projects (e.g. festivals) may include theatre projects; they are not included in this figure. )).Furthermore, in the framework of preparatory action under the Ariane programme ((COM(96) 637 final. )), a specific section is devoted to support for the translation of plays, with a view to increasing their audience. This aid is granted for the translation into several languages (at least two) of plays which have already been performed on stage or in audiovisual form and which have already achieved a certain amount of critical and public recognition, and is paid from budget heading B3-2002.The Commission considers that the quality of artistic and cultural creation in Europe is of great importance, and it endeavours, within the framework of the programmes for which it is responsible, to ensure - with the help of independent experts in various artistic fields - the artistic and cultural quality of projects selected to receive Community support. The Commission would also point out that, in line with the principle of subsidiarity, the management of cultural policy - and particularly the choice of priorities - is primarily the responsibility of the Member States. Moreover, artists and creators in the Community must be able to express themselves completely independently.