Landscape Sketch of the Arts 2025: “It’s complex” – Art, representativeness and politics

“Cultural organisations are often in reaction mode. We should think [more proactively] about a better future (…) and bring that conversation to the policy level. And there, think about a new narrative, the kind of world we want to live in.”

• Abdullah Alkafri (scenarist, theatre director, founder Ettijahat) during ‘A Fair New World?! Talk #3’ (2022)

Freedom of speech and action is crucial for this and is legally protected. This freedom is ‘active’: you can choose to exercise it (to engage as a player in the arts in the civic space) or not. If you would like to get involved, there are several options available. There is also the expressive power of art itself, and its social or political significance. In addition, there are actions that individuals, collectives or organisations can undertake, both publicly (protest, benefit, collection, ritual, public discussion, symbols) and behind the scenes (special attention to certain creators, support for action groups, discussion and consultation). And there are public statements, which one can make in the public forum or on social media.

With these positions, the question sometimes arises as to who exactly is speaking when someone makes statements on behalf of a group or organisation. A director, spokesperson, chair or board? The people who work in it or are involved in it? In recent years, a number of organisations have begun to think more deeply about this and have developed guidelines or protocols to strive for sufficient consultation and support, even on sensitive or polarising issues.

And who speaks when a ‘sector’ speaks? For sectoral member organisations, the answer is clear. Through consultation and (if necessary) voting you reach consensus or consent. But what about an arts field, or even broader: a cultural civic space or civil society in general? The arts field is unclearly defined. As a whole, it has no representative structure in Flanders. Individual voices occasionally gain – or are given – a voice in public media, and at best their views resonate on the ground. This is something different from representativeness, defined as the extent to which positions or identity characteristics of spokespersons or representatives match those of a represented group.

In this chapter we focus on ‘the arts’ – the field, art, artists, art workers, arts organisations – as actors in the civic space. Which groups and structures represent whom, where are possible gaps? What is discussed and what is not, and what are the consequences? What is the status of the dialogue between the arts field and the government? We can learn lessons from a number of crises that have impacted our sector and society in recent years.

Download the full Landscape Sketch of the Arts 2025 (in Dutch)

General conclusion

“The state of civic space in our country is not alarming, but there are warning signs,” concludes ‘De civiele ruimte vrijwaren voor een vitale democratie’ [Safeguarding civic space for a vital democracy] (2025), a knowledge dossier commissioned by Socius and carried out by KU Leuven and the University of Antwerp. The tenth and final thematic chapter in this Landscape Sketch, ‘“It’s complex”: Art, representativity and politics’ uses the same framework – that of art as part of the civic space – to discuss the political and social dialogue in the arts, and between art and politics.

Art can play a social and political role. Politicising activity – taking on a role in the civic space as an artist – is a freedom that must be protected and a conscious choice. In recent years, we have found that the conversation about this is not easy, especially at a time when freedom of expression and artistic autonomy are under pressure – especially internationally, but sometimes also in Flanders.

The dialogue between art and politics is structured and institutionalised, but also quite fragmented. The arts field in its entirety lacks a platform for consultation across various agendas, let alone representation in policymaking. However, the field is capable of such a dialogue, as we learn from the way in which the loudly announced cuts to the project fund in the Arts Decree (2019) and the impact of COVID-19 (from 2020) on creators and organisations have been dealt with.

A sustainable system for consultation within the broader arts field could have an agenda-setting and activating effect based on a shared vision of the civic role of the arts. It could provide a space where that role is seriously discussed, based on the strengths and concerns of all parties involved. This can be beneficial for the representativeness and support of positions, and for mutual understanding between large groups of players (‘the’ creators, ‘the’ large structures). From there, work can be done to expand and strengthen the networks between art and the wider civil society, which could better arm that civil society (including the arts) against future challenges.

Core insights

• Art, and the people and organisations working in the arts field, have the opportunity to play a social role in the civic space.
• That freedom is important and must be protected. It goes hand in hand with artistic autonomy, and freedom of expression and action.
• Many consultation structures are active in our arts field, but there is no platform or body for sector-wide consultation. Such sector-wide consultation is necessary concerning several themes, including the possible ways in which players in the arts can and want to speak out and engage on political and social issues.