Flemish Culture minister Caroline Gennez has launched Horizon 2035, a broad brainstorming exercise on the future of Flanders’ cultural policy.
A Future Commission comprising professionals, representatives and experts from across the sector will reflect on what the cultural policy in Flanders could look like in 10 years’ time.
“This is the first time such a brainstorming exercise is taking place. We are ambitious,” Gennez at the launch at Museum M in Leuven. “With Horizon 2035, we are working with the cultural sector to develop a powerful and future-proof cultural policy that will ensure that our cultural creators can continue to play their social role in Flanders in 10 years’ time.”
The second theme is cultural democracy and inclusion. The emphasis is on permanently removing persistent barriers to participation, so that culture becomes accessible to everyone.
Katrien Partyka, an MP for Christian democracts CD&V, criticised the composition of the commission.
“It does not represent the broad cultural field,” she said. “There is for example no representation from the broad socio-cultural field, the amateur arts or the academic world.” She is calling for a review of the body’s composition.
Nothing screams “cultural democracy” louder than hand‑picking your audience to prove how inclusive you are.