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culture Solutions Newsletter

No. 25 > July 2026

Dear cS friend,


Whether you're an EU official, an artist, a cultural sector professional or simply passionate about culture, we're here to keep you informed about the latest developments in EU cultural relations, along with updates on our projects, events and publications.


Summer has started and in this musical edition we focus on the role of music in cultural relations, resistance and well-being, with an enjoyable recommendation to discover new musical genres during the holiday season.


Our newsletter features cS Explains, which highlights our team's work and analysis, and cS Explores, which curates external content and opportunities. In addition, this edition of cS Enjoys celebrates the vibrant energy of spring through visual arts, sound, literature, theatre and performance.


Thank you for being part of this journey with us. We are grateful for your engagement and look forward to the conversations ahead.


Warm regards,

culture Solutions team

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cS Explains

Podcasts

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 Space for dialogue



culture Solutions and culture360.ASEF.org have teamed up for a new podcast episode on culture, conflict and mental health. Part of the "Redefining Well-being through Culture" series, the episode examines how music, art, and living heritage step in as primary responses to collective trauma where formal mental health infrastructure is lacking.





> LISTEN NOW

Articles

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 Policy analysis



The Eurovision 2026 Grand Final took place with a bang: Bulgaria’s “Bangaranga” snatched the first place from Israel in an edition marred by boycotts over its participation. This article explores how the song contest has succeeded in its mission to unite through music by bringing together people from all over the world and fostering the soft power of both EU and non-EU countries, but geopolitical tensions put in danger the reputation and even the future of the show.



> READ MORE 

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 Policy analysis



This article explores the Flamingo Revolution as thousands of Albanians protest the government’s decision to hand over a vast stretch of their country’s most pristine coastline to a luxury resort project. It highlights the depth of public commitment to natural heritage and sustainable ways of life, and what that entails in the context of European Union enlargement and its attractiveness.



> READ MORE 

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 Policy analysis



The second mandate of President Trump and the MAGA movement have brought about political and cultural tensions in the transatlantic relationship, and impacted both the United States and European Union soft power.
This article provides a summary of cS Brief #16 on Trump 2.0 and EU Soft Power.



> READ MORE 

Videos

 Space for dialogue 


In the first episode of our new series "Inside ICR: Voices from the field", Elise Cuny speaks with Vanessa Fraga Prol, Advocacy & Partnerships Manager at Europa Nostra.


The interview explores current priorities for culture in the EU neighbourhood, while highlighting EU's future financial framework and missed oportunities within the Global Europe strategy.


> WATCH NOW


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Events

UNESCO World Heritage Young Professionals Forum

 Space for dialogue 


Atakan Budakçi is participating in workshops, discussions and field visits in the UNESCO World Heritage Young Professionals Forum 2026, taking place alongside the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, in the Republic of Korea.


The Forum brings together 30 young professionals from around the world, exploring this year's theme "World Heritage, Communities and Education: Empowering Youth as Agents of Change".


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cS Explores

EU policy and politics

Publications

Recommendations for environmental friendly practices in Digital Cultural Heritage

Green/Digital/Cultural heritage Guidance document by Michael Culture Association



After Cultural Diplomacy

Cultural relations Article by Culture Policy Room


Cultural Mobility Flows Report: Cities as Enablers of International Cultural Mobility

Cultural relations Publication by On the Move


Cultural organizations in transition—rethinking management, governance, and organizational change

Cultural relations Publication by Public Money & Management, Routledge


Evaluation of the British Council’s Contribution to Social Cohesion through its Arts & Cultural Heritage Programmes

Cultural relations Publication by British Council


From Local to Global: The Power of Heritage in a Changing World

Cultural heritage Report by The Heritage Alliance

Events

European Forum on Culture and Politics

Cultural relations 16-18.09.2026 Event by BONN SUMMIT


Documentation in Context: Historical Legacies and Future Directions

Cultural heritage 16-20.11.2026 Event by ICOM-Documentation


European Heritage Hub Forum, Mare Nostrum: Fostering Peace through Heritage

Cultural heritage Recording by Europa Nostra

Opportunities

‘Innovative Cultural Products’ call, co-funded by the EU

Cultural relations 14.08.2026 Call for applications by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation


Third Performe Europe Open Call

Cultural relations 22.10.2026 Open call by Performe Europe


Cultural Property Protection and Disaster Response

Cultural heritage Certificate Programme by the Center for Cultural Property Protection


European Heritage Masterclass

Cultural heritage Video series with Prof. Hermann Parzinger

Multimedia

The Concert to Connect

Cultural resilience Impact initiative through music


In the Sahel, culture as a vital space

Cultural heritage Interview by Studio Kalangou


S+T+ARTS Afropean Intelligence Voices

Digital Podcast series by Chroniques



IETM Global Pod

Cultural relations Podcast series by IETM

The views expressed in cS Explores do not represent the official position of culture Solutions.

cS Enjoys

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Fady Jeanbart chante Wadia Sabra
Fady Jeanbart is a Lebanese baritone, committed to studying Lebanese musical archives, notably the work of Wadia Sabra, composer of “Air de PIERRE No.21: 'Chanson de l'Adieu' de l'opérette L'Émigré” (1931), which he performs accompanied by Marc Barakat on the piano.

Fady Jeanbart was a guest in our podcast series Composing peace.

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Ils dansent

Peruvian-Belgian artists, Chicos y Mendez are based in Brussels, and offer a musical repertoire open to contemporary influences, proposing lyrics in Spanish and in French that translate a desire to meet the poetry of the other. 

The song “Ils dansent” portrays migrants' experiences coming to Europe and the complex and at times conflicting feelings towards the continent.

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The Sound of Everything

The playlist by The Sounds of Spotify presentes one song from every genre currently tracked on the website Every Noise at Once, a music mapping project created by the formet Spotify data alchemist Glenn McDonald. With over 6 thousand titles, the playlist offers a fun way to explore new music.

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Become a partner

Our network of partners includes both the EU institutions and the cultural sector. Contact us now to establish a partnership with cS.



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Join us

We are currently looking for new collaborators. Apply now! Erasmus+ interns welcome.



> SEE VACANCIES

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Donate 

cS is a non-profit organisation and our collaborators work pro bono. Help us continue creating commons in the sphere of EU international cultural relations.



> DONATE

Photo credits (top-left to bottom-right): 1. Music-making Animals ("Air") by Jean-Baptiste Oudry, Nationalmuseum Sweden. Public Domain.  2. The Lutenist by Hendrick Martensz Sorgh, Rijksmuseum. Public Domain. 3. Musical Company by Rembrandt van Rijn, Rijksmuseum. Public Domain. 4. Children Teaching a Cat to Dance, Known as ‘The Dancing Lesson’ by Jan Havicksz. Steen, Rijksmuseum. Public Domain.

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