Rector of the National University of Theatre and Film 'IL Caragiale' (UNATC) Liviu Lucaci, along with a 20-member university delegation, attended on November 11-12 in Brussels the 'Theatrical and Cinematographic Arts in the European Union: Challenges, Opportunities, and Cultural Diplomacy in Vulnerable Regions' Conference.

'It was an invitation for me and a team of 20 UNATC representatives in order to identify funding solutions and opportunities related to the European Commission's directions and, more generally, to the development of culture and art at the European level. The goal was for us, the UNATC, to present our point of view on European cultural and arts policy and to find opportunities together with the officials there. That is what we did, the meetings were of the highest level, we met with European Parliament Vice President Katarina Barley and European Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Manzatu,' Liviu Lucaci told AGERPRES.

He stated that the visit to Brussels focused on institutional communication with the European Commission and the European Parliament.

The UNATC rector also mentioned that he had a meeting with Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, with the aim of 'finding concrete solutions for funding art universities regarding artistic research and interdisciplinary productions, with an emphasis on the arts, as well as the 'European-level recognition of the artist as a cultural mediator'.'

Liviu Lucaci also stated that he had a meeting with the officials from Creative Europe, where the 'lack of funding for theatre and performing arts' was highlighted, even though theatre is significant in Romania and at the EU level, as shown by festivals attended by hundreds of thousands of spectators and artists from dozens of countries.

'The focus of the meeting with Creative Europe was placed on identifying changes in the future EU plan to support theatre and the performing arts,' Lucaci said.

He mentioned that other topics were also discussed, including the use of theatre and film as tools for mental health, alternative pedagogies, new technologies, medicine, but also the use of AI in theatre and cinema, with an emphasis on AI ethics and the new opportunities which AI provides.

'All these topics revolve around the philosophy embraced by the UNATC: art creates like nature and serves humanity on the path of revealing essential truths about the human being. Art and society are inseparable, with the artist giving shape to the times, a sensitive witness of contemporary life. Theatre is a tool for defending democracy, therefore, funding some interdisciplinary programmes in which theatre people create resilient societal models to offer them as viable alternatives,' the UNATC rector concluded.

The delegation from Bucharest was made up of UNATC Rector Prof. Liviu Lucaci, Vice-Rector for Research, Development and Innovation, Assoc. Alexandru Berceanu; Vice-Rector for International Relations and Image, Lecturer Diana Pacurar; Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Film, Lecturer Gabriela Suciu; Assoc. Daniel Stanciu, Director of the Puppet and Marionette Department; Assoc. Ana Agopian, Director of Screenwriting-Filmology; Lecturer Stefan Damian; Researcher Dr. Marina Hanganu, as well as students and master's students. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Petronius Craiu; EN - writing by: Rodica State)