As an agency, we are somewhere at the interface between culture and commerce. But we wouldn’t be doing this if we didn’t have an open eye and ear for art. It’s time to turn these senses to the political situation…

Culture and art in a democratic context

Culture, in this context, should be understood as the collective heritage of knowledge, values, norms and forms of artistic expression, and provides the framework in which democratic processes take place. It influences how people communicate with each other, how they perceive power structures and how they participate in our political processes.

Art, on the other hand, understood here as conscious creative expression, whether through painting, music, literature, theater or digital media, is what we would like to see as a medium that makes cultural values visible and questions them. It has the ability to arouse genuine emotions, to spark debate and to make us look at the world from many perspectives.

The positive influence of culture on democracy

Culture can do good for democratic processes in many ways:

1. Think about it: Through cultural education and access to different forms of artistic expression, people are encouraged to think critically and question existing power structures. This is an essential component of a healthy democracy in which citizens do not just passively consume, but actively and informed participate in political processes.
2. Stronger together: Culture creates community and identity. Shared cultural experiences, such as festivals, concerts or theater performances, promote a sense of belonging and create platforms for dialogue. These shared experiences help to strengthen the social fabric, which is essential for a functioning democracy.
3. More art, more opinion: Art is a powerful means of expressing different opinions and perspectives. It provides a platform for dialogue on complex and often controversial topics. By helping to express opinions freely and creatively, art supports the fundamental principles of freedom of expression, which are essential to democratic societies.
4. Awareness of social issues: Many works of art address social injustice, marginalized groups and underrepresented voices. These forms of artistic expression create awareness and demand change, which can lead to a more just society and a more inclusive democracy.

Art as a catalyst for political mobilization

An exciting aspect of art is its ability to mobilize political movements. From the civil rights movement in the United States to the recent protests in Hong Kong, art has repeatedly played a central role in mobilizing people, inspiring them and resisting regimes that are perceived as unjust.

Artists and activists use art to convey political messages that go beyond the usual political language. The power of art lies in its ability to evoke complex emotional and intellectual responses that can lead to deeper reflection and ultimately to action.

But beware: the danger of instrumentalized culture

With all the positive influences that art and culture can have on democracy, it is important to also shed light on the flip side. Culture and art can also be instrumentalized to promote totalitarian ideologies or to consolidate existing power structures. This is evident in regimes that use culture for propaganda to influence public opinion and keep democratic movements in check.

Culture and art are not only instruments for strengthening democracy, but can also become a threat to it if they are not critically reflected upon and created and received in an open, pluralistic context. This underlines the need for a critical cultural education that not only promotes access to art, but also strengthens the ability to reflect and resist manipulation.

Recognize opportunities

Culture and art have great potential to positively influence democratic processes by promoting thinking, strengthening cohesion, encouraging dialogue on difficult topics and mobilizing political movements.

But as with any powerful tool, its use also carries risks. A reflective and conscious engagement with art and culture is therefore essential to promote its positive effects and control its negative ones.

In a time when democracy is under pressure in many places, it is important to defend the cultural sphere as a place of open debate, diversity and resistance to ideological appropriation. Only in this way can art develop its full transformative power – in the sense of a vibrant, open and inclusive democracy.

So let’s create more cultural spaces and take good care of them.