Short Cultural Policy Profiles for Belgium – Flanders and Wallonia!

For the first time, we can present short profiles simultaneously of Flanders (the Flemish-speaking community of Belgium) and Wallonia (the French speaking community of Belgium).

Thank you very much for the great efforts and help from our Belgian experts Simon Leenknegt (Flanders) and Jean-Gilles Lowies (Wallonia).

The two reports outline the commonalities and diversities within Belgium, which makes it a very special and enriching country!

Key Cultural Policy Developments: Belgium (Flanders)

• Reform and Implementation of the Arts Decree (Kunstendecreet):

  • Ongoing adjustments to the legislative framework governing professional arts in Flanders and Brussels. Key priorities include balancing funding distribution across disciplines, fostering diversity, and moving beyond evaluating individual project quality in isolation to assessing the broader ecosystem.

• Strategic Framework for International Cultural Policy (2021–2025):

  • Implementation of a cross-sector strategy designed to strengthen the global positioning of Flemish artists and cultural organisations.

  • Focuses on strategic geographical priorities, international co-productions, network building, fair practice standards, and digital/hybrid international exchanges.

• Decentralisation and Local Cultural Governance:

  • Transition of cultural responsibilities following the reallocation of provincial cultural competences. Local authorities have assumed a more direct role, supported by the Decree on Supralocal Cultural Activities (Decreet Bovenlokale Cultuur), which promotes inter-municipal cooperation and regional cultural initiatives.

• Cultural Heritage and Socio-Cultural Work Frameworks:

  • Continued alignment under the Cultural Heritage Decree (Cultuurerfgoeddecreet) and the Decree on Socio-Cultural Adult Work, focusing on digital transformation, collection management, community participation, and active citizenship.

• Fair Practice, Sustainability, and Inclusion:

  • Increased integration of social security reforms for art workers (Statuut van de Kunstwerker / Working in the Arts framework), promotion of fair compensation models (Fair Practice Code), climate-neutral cultural practices, and proactive policies for diversity and accessibility across the cultural sector.

Key Cultural Policy Developments: Belgium (French Community / Wallonia-Brussels Federation)

• Reform of the Arts Framework (Décret relatif aux Arts de la Scène) & Multi-Annual Subsidies:

  • Implementation and consolidation of the governance framework regulating performing arts and creative sectors, aiming for structured 5-year funding cycles, improved transparency in peer-review evaluations, and stronger support for emerging artists.

• Support for Art Workers & Status Governance:

  • Active integration of national social protection reforms for culture workers (Working in the Arts / Statuut van de Kunstwerker). Emphasis on enforcing fair remuneration standards (Fair Practice Code), combating precarity, and improving employment conditions across subsidized cultural institutions.

• Evolution of the Cultural Centres Framework (Décret Centre Culturel):

  • Ongoing focus on territorial coverage, citizen participation, and socio-cultural cohesion across Wallonia and Brussels, encouraging cultural centres to act as drivers for local democracy, inclusion, and community engagement.

• Digital Transformation and Audiovisual Strategy:

  • Adaptation of media and audiovisual policies under the Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel (CSA) to regulate digital streaming platforms, ensure quota compliance for local French-language content, and boost funding for domestic film and TV production (Centre du Cinéma et de l’Audiovisuel).

• Diversity, Accessibility, and Climate Action:

  • Stronger policy integration focusing on gender equality, anti-discrimination, and physical/financial accessibility to cultural venues.

  • Development of sustainability guidelines to support cultural organizations in reducing their carbon footprint and transitioning toward eco-friendly production methods.

You can find all available Short Cultural Policy Profiles on the Compendium website.