Rejoining Creative Europe remains one of the MU’s key priorities in improving touring and cultural exchange between the UK and EU. Photo: Shutterstock.
The Forum on EU-UK Cultural and Media Relations— of which the MU is an official supporter— is an independent and non-partisan pan-European grassroots initiative founded in September 2024 and based in London and Brussels.
The Forum has recently launched a new petition urging the UK Government to rejoin Creative Europe, the EU’s flagship cultural funding programme.
Since leaving the EU, the UK has been unable to access vital funding to support cross-border cultural exchange. The petition aims to build support and encourage the Government to restore UK participation.
What is the Creative Europe Programme?
Creative Europe is the European Union’s primary funding program (2021–2027, with a €2.44 billion budget), supporting the cultural, creative and audiovisual sectors across Europe. It promotes cultural diversity, artistic expression and competitiveness through three strands: Culture, MEDIA and Cross-sectoral.
The next funding programme, known as Agora EU, proposes almost €1.8 billion for the 2028–2034 period — a significant increase in investment and four times higher than when the UK previously participated in Creative Europe.
An MU priority
Rejoining Creative Europe remains one of the MU’s key priorities in improving touring and cultural exchange between the UK and EU.
The MU, alongside other music industry bodies and organisations across the creative industries, is part of the UK-EU Cultural Exchange Coalition, working to turn political commitments on removing touring barriers into practical action for artists.
Earlier this month, the Union also gave evidence to MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee about EU touring challenges, alongside musician Kate Nash and Hanna Madalska-Gayer from the Association of British Orchestras (ABO).