A statue by Antonio Gades commemorates the great dancer in Elda
The Elda Shoe Museum hosted a Monday forum organized by the European Union to address the social and professional situation of artists and workers in the cultural and creative sector. Under the theme Is it possible to make a living from art, the event brought together figures from the cultural world and members of the Municipal Corporation to discuss sustainable livelihoods for professionals in the arts in Elda and beyond.
Ruben Alfaro, the mayor of Elda, opened the gathering with a sentiment shared by many guests. The event featured the active participation of European representatives including Domènec Ruiz Devesa from the European Parliament, Carmen Páez, General Director of Cultural Industries, Intellectual Property and Cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, and Arturo Caballero, Deputy Director General of Education and Culture at the European Commission. Rosa Vidal, a council member responsible for Tourism, Theater and Media, moderated the forum, guiding conversations with clarity and focus.
José Manuel Albares, the minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, joined the discussion electronically. He stressed that arts and culture guide Europe in defending its values and serve as the soul of the European project. He noted the challenges faced by professionals and highlighted how the Elda event aligns with the objectives of Spain’s EU presidency, an effort to bring Europe to every part of the country. This perspective reinforced the aim of elevating cultural work to a matter of public interest across member states. [Cited: Spanish EU Presidency statements]
The minister underscored that Spanish leadership is advancing Europe, and the discussion in Elda would shape the agenda of the Spanish presidency. The goal is to improve working, social and financial conditions for cultural workers through instruments such as the European Artists Charter, elevating culture to essential public interest. [Cited: European Commission notes]
Carmen Páez added that it should be possible to earn a living from art and that the government is actively working to ensure this. She noted that cultural workers often live with intermittency and exceptional circumstances and recalled 2018 measures intended to adapt these exceptions to general rules. [Cited: 2018 Congress measures]
The Ministry of Culture and Sports representative reminded attendees that culture is a vital economic sector, yet workers face unequal conditions. While progress has been made, there is still a long path ahead. As a European nation, it is essential to extend this momentum to the European level, the minister said, urging the 27 member states of the European Parliament to entrust this task with greater authority. [Cited: EU cultural policy briefing]
Domènec Ruiz stated that the status of artists in his country serves as a model for the European Union. He called for an end to precarious conditions among cultural professionals and proposed organized European frameworks to improve quality of life. Issues such as mobility, exploitative contracts and disruptions to work need to be addressed under a legal basis at the European level. [Cited: EU framework proposal]
Arturo Caballero, representing the European Commission, affirmed that the commission is aware of the situation and remains committed to progress. He noted that the crisis acted as a catalyst for action and that the commission continues to push for improvements at both state and union levels. He also acknowledged that while financing opportunities exist, access is not always straightforward due to limited information. [Cited: European Commission statements]
During the electronically delivered remarks, Eldense journalist Pepa Blanes called for breaking ideological prejudices to end precarity. She observed that public investment in recent years has improved working conditions in the sector, though real wealth and employment extend beyond artists alone. She argued that culture should never be treated as a luxury and that Spanish artists continue to experience precarious employment. [Cited: Eldense media coverage]
The Eldense council member expressed satisfaction with selecting Elda as the site for a discussion on the social and professional situations of artists and workers in the cultural and creative sectors. The mayor, Rubén Alfaro, highlighted that Elda should feel proud to host a forum that shines a light on these issues. He pointed out that Spain has pioneered strong regulations to ensure decent working conditions for cultural professionals, while acknowledging ongoing issues such as wage delays, inconsistent pay, low salaries, and the absence of a defined work framework. [Cited: Municipal government records]
The Elda mayor reminded attendees that the challenge extends beyond national borders. The aim is to raise awareness across all 27 EU member states about the need for a single, coherent legal framework that can improve the social and working conditions of European artists. [Cited: EU framework advocacy]