Culture, Democracy, Civil Rights and Copyright Protection in times of Artificial Intelligence

The Genshagen Forum on Cultural Policies 2025 addressed crucial questions and challenges in dealing with artificial intelligence (AI): How to define digital sovereignty in Europe? What potential does AI harbour for democracy, civil rights and creative production? How can culture and the arts contribute to shaping a European vision and identity? Which new approaches are needed in arts education and cultural funding?  And how must framework conditions for a creative and democratic approach to AI technologies be designed in order to secure democracy, cultural and artistic creation in Europe in the long term?  

The conference brought together stakeholders and institutions from the Weimar Triangle with European partners to explore parallels, commonalities and possible alliances. On this basis, future visions for the creation of favourable conditions for a responsible and creative approach to AI in Europe, that benefits the general interest, were developed and reflected in the ‘Genshagen Proposals’ adopted by the forum participants. The ‘Genshagen Proposals’ comprise 19 specific recommendations to contain the risks that the rapid development of generative AI in particular represents for society, democracy, the rule of law and European identity, while at the same time leveraging its potential for the arts, culture, media and cultural education. It is clear that in order to protect European values and cultural diversity in Europe, a legislative framework is needed at European level. Cooperation within the Weimar Triangle provides valuable impetus for this.  

Partners: Initiative Urheberrecht (Authors’ Rights Initiative)

Supported by: VG Bild Kunst