Horizon 2035 exercise launched to define future Flemish cultural policy
Flemish Culture minister Caroline Gennez has launched Horizon 2035, a broad brainstorming exercise on the future of Flanders’ cultural policy.
A Future Commission comprising professionals, representatives and experts from across the sector will reflect on what the cultural policy in Flanders could look like in 10 years' time.
“This is the first time such a brainstorming exercise is taking place. We are ambitious,” Gennez at the launch at Museum M in Leuven. “With Horizon 2035, we are working with the cultural sector to develop a powerful and future-proof cultural policy that will ensure that our cultural creators can continue to play their social role in Flanders in 10 years' time.”
Four themes
The Future Commission will examine four themes. The first is the transformative power of culture. Culture is seen here as a driver of social change and as a connecting element with other domains, such as education, welfare and digital developments such as AI.
“The cultural sector faces many fundamental challenges: growing uncertainty and polarisation, limited resources and the struggle for greater inclusion"
The second theme is cultural democracy and inclusion. The emphasis is on permanently removing persistent barriers to participation, so that culture becomes accessible to everyone.
The third is the sharing and giving of space. Attention is paid to more solidarity-based models that are not solely based on competition for resources. These models must also offer opportunities to smaller players and encourage the sharing of infrastructure.
Finally, there is the European testing ground, in which Flanders’ cultural policy is treated as part of a broader European context. The focus is on cooperation with international partners and on strengthening shared democratic values.
“The cultural sector faces many fundamental challenges: growing uncertainty and polarisation, limited resources and the struggle for greater inclusion,” said Gennez. “We will need all our knowledge and creativity not only to find answers to these challenges, but to go further and think about the long-term impact and role of Flemish cultural policy.”
In September 2026, the Future Commission will present its final report. That report will then be discussed further with the cultural sector and submitted to the Strategic Advisory Council for Culture (SARC).
“There is no representation from the broad socio-cultural field, the amateur arts or the academic world"
Katrien Partyka, an MP for Christian democracts CD&V, criticised the composition of the commission.
“It does not represent the broad cultural field,” she said. “There is for example no representation from the broad socio-cultural field, the amateur arts or the academic world.” She is calling for a review of the body's composition.
#FlandersNewsService | Flemish Culture minister Caroline Gennez and VRT journalist Xavier Taveirne at a film award ceremony © BELGA PHOTO KURT DESPLENTER
Related news
