Council resolution on business sponsorship of cultural activities

The full title of Document 486Y1213(02) is: Resolution of the Ministers with responsibility for Cultural Affairs, meeting within the Council of 13 November 1986 on business sponsorship of cultural activities (86/C 320/02). Regardless of the date, it is the latest EU document in the subject.

1. The Ministers reponsible for cultural affairs meeting within the Council recognise that the European cultural heritage and cultural activities in general benefit from a combination of public and private support. In their view these can best be maintained and developed through strengthened support from a plurality of sources, including different forms of sponsorship both private and corporate.

2. In this context business sponsorship can enhance the cultural heritage and increase the production and dissemination of artistic activity. Ministers believe that business sponsorship can be developed in ways which do not inhibit artistic freedom; and that it should provide supplementary funding for cultural activities, not a substitute for existing resources.

3. A greater degree of artistic activity enhances the cultural life and leisure activities of European citizens. It provides various benefits, including increased tourism, at local, regional and national levels, as well as to the European Community as a whole. The businesses concerned can improve their image, the environment for their work force is improved, and often through such artistic activity an extra inducement is provided to industry to locate itself or remain located in a particular area.

4. Sponsorship also offers possibilities for funding transnational arts activities through companies with strong European interests, and for thus improving the opportunities for cultural exchanges within the Community.

5. With these considerations in mind, the Ministers agree to encourage:

(i) the promotion of greater business sponsorship of cultural activities within the Member States of the European Community, by calling attention to sponsorship as an activity which provides benefits to both parties, as well as helping to enhance cultural and economic activity;

(ii) consideration of the introduction within their own countries of measures to promote suitable sponsorship schemes;

(iii) the setting up of organizations to advise and help those businesses and arts which are interested in sponsorship;

(iv) the development of links between the sponsorship organizations concerned;

(v) the sharing of information on current sponsorship activities, thus permitting an assessment of the need for future initiatives.

6. They take note of the Commission's intention to contribute further to the realization of measures in this field.