In recent years, the Dutch Council for Culture has received increasing indications that the artistic freedom of artists and institutions, in the Netherlands and internationally, is coming under growing pressure. This prompted the Council to to investigate the causes of this trend and possible lines of action. This investigation has lead to the advisory report Creating under pressure, which was published in January 2026.
Beeld: Raad voor Cultuur
The advisory report addresses questions that resonate far beyond the Netherlands. How can artistic freedom be protected at a time when artists and cultural institutions face growing social and political pressure? And what responsibilities do governments, the cultural sector and education have in safeguarding that freedom?
Following requests from several international organisations and institutions, an abridged English version of the advisory report is now available. This makes the report's key findings and recommendations accessible to an international audience.