The European Policy Forum

The European Policy Forum on Data-Driven Audience Development in the Cultural and Creative Sectors is a forum established to foster structural European cooperation in the domain of data-driven practices within the cultural and creative sectors. It is an initiative that originated from the Ghent Manifesto and the EU Council Conclusions adopted under the Belgian Presidency of the EU in the first half of 2024.

Read more on the Ghent Manifesto

At present, it functions as an informal policy forum. The Forum's core purpose is to stimulate discussion and initiate action concerning the use and exchange of audience data.

The forum is currently chaired by the Flemish Department of Culture, Youth and Media (CJM) and publiq vzw. After 2025, the chairmanship will rotate among its members.

Objectives of the Forum

The European Policy Forum is guided by several fundamental objectives:

  1. To support knowledge development and understanding of data-driven audience development opportunities within the European Cultural and Creative Sectors (CCS) by facilitating the sharing of policy insights and research findings.
  2. To inform EU, national, and sub-national governments in order to underpin strategic decision-making processes related to audience data and development policies—specifically concerning the use and exchange of audience data, the application of data standards, and the development of interoperability for audience data and related infrastructure.
  3. To connect European CCS organisations with digital experts and all levels of government to promote constructive interaction and dialogue on the use and exchange of audience data.
  4. To foster innovation and growth across the European CCS by supporting cross-sectoral collaboration and encouraging international partnerships in audience data and data infrastructure.
  5. To engage less active EU Member States and cultural organisations in the field of data-driven audience development by promoting the exchange of best practices, building sector-specific know-how, and encouraging partnerships and synergies that support artists and creative professionals where a European dimension brings added value.

Aims and functioning

The Forum aims to outline the contours of a policy paper advocating for investments and initiatives in data-driven audience development, highlighting the added value for various stakeholders and the importance of standardisation, interoperability, and digital transformation.

Consult the Terms of Reference: these guide the activities of the Forum, emphasizing collaboration, inclusivity, and sharedleadership in advancing audience development and data policies within the cultural and creative sectors.

Interested in participating?

Contact internationaal.cjm@vlaanderen.be for any inquiries.

Minutes of the Meetings