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The Ultimate Cookbook for Cultural Managers The Artistic Freedom Regulatory Framework in the EU

The new edition of the EFA/Pearle* Cookbooks unravels the Artistic Freedom Regulatory Framework in the EU. Pearle* and EFA continue their fruitful collaboration with a brand-new edition of The Ultimate Cookbook for Cultural Managers on one of the most pressing issues facing the cultural sector today: artistic freedom.

The European Festival Association (EFA) and Pearle*-Live Performance Europe have been working together since 2014 to improve knowledge on the practical and legal aspects of cross-border cooperation in the performing arts. This cooperation was made possible with the support of the Creative Europe programme through the RISE project from 2014 to 2017, the EFA RISE 2 project from 2017 to 2021, and the Revealing the Alliance project from 2021 to 2024. This fruitful collaboration now continues for another four years with the Care for and Share the Alliance programme that runs from 2025 to 2028.

Back in 2015, EFA and Pearle* organised a series of seminars and workshops with contributions from legal and academic experts, addressing a wide range of topics related to the crossborder dimension of live performances. Participants were invited to formulate their questions in advance, revealing many common challenges faced by cultural managers across Europe. These seminars led to the creation of The Ultimate Cookbook for Cultural Managers series, which blends theoretical explanations with practical cases and suggestions for solutions. Over time, the scope of the series expanded to cover European policies with major implications for our sector, such as the green and digital transitions.

This successful series continues and builds further on those approaches under the Care for and Share the Alliance project. Adapting to the needs and challenges of the live performance sector, the cookbooks also look beyond the administrative topics covered in previous editions to provide guidance on broader societal issues that impact the day-to-day practice of cultural professionals. This brochure will focus on the topic of artistic freedom, that more festivals, theatres, concert halls and venues are confronted with. In this cookbook, you will find all the essential ingredients to identify the various aspects and understand the legal framework of artistic freedom, along with practical recipes for action to defend and promote it. We would like to thank Pearle* and EFA members for sharing their experiences, and all those who are committed to defending and promoting artistic freedom.

Published on
12 December 2025

European Festivals Association

Pearle* - Live Performance Europe