Mobility Support: Providing Incentives for Professional and Artistic Development

Veronika Ratzenböck

In 2008, the European Commission authorised the European Institute for Comparative Cultural Research (the ERICarts Institute) to conduct the study “Mobility Matters. Programmes and Schemes to Support the Mobility of Artists and Cultural Professionals in Europe”.

ERICarts carried out the study together with national correspondents in 35 countries (in Austria: the österreichische kulturdokumentation internationales archiv für kulturanalysen). The study provides an analytical review of 350 individual national and regional mobility support programmes and describes, in 40 case studies, mobility trends as well as possibilities for and obstacles to the mobility of artists and cultural professionals in Europe.

One of the core statements of the study is: Mobility is to be seen not simply as an occasional phenomenon but more as a development process. Increasingly, mobility is becoming an integral part of the regular work life of artists and other cultural professionals, central to their professional and artistic development. Mobility – not only in the artistic sphere – is becoming a pivotal aspect of the European labour market. Compatible, well-balanced, productive mobility support schemes therefore need to be developed and/or improved by national, regional or local governments and semi-public bodies.

The basis for this concept of mobility should be: understanding – open research – resources – fairness – sustainability.