The European Centre for Culture
The European Centre for Culture
The European Conference on Culture
Call by Denis de Rougemont for the establishment of a European Cultural Centre
TextOn 9 May 1948, during the plenary session of the Cultural Committee of the Congress of Europe in The Hague, the Swiss philosopher and critic, Denis de Rougemont, rapporteur for the Committee, emphasises the importance of the cultural dimension of European unification.
Programme and objectives of the European Conference on Culture (1949)
TextIn November 1948, the cultural section of the European Movement and the Planning Board for a European Centre for Culture publish together a programme for the European Conference on Culture due to be held in Lausanne from 8 to 12 December 1949.
General report on the European Conference on Culture (Lausanne, 8–12 December 1949)
TextIn preparation for the European Conference on Culture held in Lausanne from 8 to 12 December 1949, the Planning Board for a European Centre for Culture led by the Swiss federalist, Denis de Rougemont, finalises a general report based on around 40 specialist reports which identifies the difficulties facing culture in Europe and proposes the establishment of a series of specifically European institutions responsible for its development.
‘The spiritual defence of Europe’ from La Gazette de Lausanne (3 December 1949)
TextOn 3 December 1949, the Gazette de Lausanne comments on the meaning and the scope of the European Conference on Culture and calls for ‘powerful and concerted action at an emotional and spiritual level’ to be taken in Europe.
Address given by Salvador de Madariaga at the European Conference on Culture (Lausanne, 8 December 1949)
TextOn 8 December 1949, in his opening address at the European Conference on Culture held in Lausanne, the writer and former Spanish diplomat, Salvador de Madariaga, emphasises the need for post-war Europe to unite around the values of freedom and respect for the individual in order for it to gain a better awareness of itself and its culture.
Denis de Rougemont, Presentation of the Conference
TextIn 1950, the monthly publication Fédération publishes a transcription of the address given by Denis de Rougemont, Swiss essayist and federalist, on 8 December 1948 in Lausanne at the opening of the European Conference on Culture.
Carlo Schmid, European man
TextAt the European Conference on Culture held from 8 to 12 December 1949 in Lausanne, Carlo Schmid, Vice-President of the Committee of the German Parliamentary Council, gives an address in which he speculates on the fundamental nature of Europe and tries to identify what characterises ‘European man’.
Welcome note in La Gazette de Lausanne for the participants attending the European Conference on Culture (9 December 1949)
TextOn 9 December 1949, La Gazette de Lausanne welcomes the participants attending the European Conference on Culture and, alluding to the history of the Swiss Confederation, expresses its hope that they will find an atmosphere conducive to their work on the banks of the Léman.
‘Message to the European Conference on Culture' from Le Figaro (9 December 1949)
TextOn 9 December 1949, in the French daily newspaper Le Figaro, the writer Georges Duhamel, Member of the French Academy, publishes the text of the message that he gave to the organisers of the European Conference on Culture in Lausanne to emphasise the importance and significance of their work.
Exchange of letters between Virgil Gheorghiu and Denis de Rougemont (9 December 1949)
TextOn 9 December 1949, reporting on the opening of the European Conference on Culture the previous day, the Gazette de Lausanne publishes an exchange of letters between the Swiss essayist, Denis de Rougement, and the Romanian writer, Virgil Gheorghiu, who outlines the reasons why he is reluctant to attend. In reply, Denis de Rougement gives grounds for hope and calls on Gheorghiu to become an ‘active pessimist'.
‘The delegates at work’ from La Gazette de Lausanne (10 December 1949)
TextOn 10 December 1949, the Gazette de Lausanne describes the work of the European Conference on Culture. It summarises, in particular, the addresses given by Duncan Stephen, British poet, on the need for an independent European culture and by the Swiss conductor, Ernest Ansermet, on the importance of a shared European consciousness. The newspaper emphasises, however, that the conference must propose tangible cultural plans. It also includes three portraits of European figures: Duncan Sandys, Elisabeth Bowen and Carlo Schmid.
‘Faith in Europe’ from the Journal de Genève (10 December 1949)
TextOn 10 December 1949, the Journal de Genève sets out the objectives of the European Conference on Culture and advocates a pro-European optimism, despite the fact that the continent is divided.
‘Madariaga: If Europe were to die, it would be an injustice!’ from the Journal de Genève (14 December 1949)
TextOn 14 December 1949, reporting on the proceedings of the European Conference on Culture held a few days earlier in Lausanne by the European Movement, the Swiss daily newspaper Journal de Genève speculates on the definition of the concept of ‘Europe’.
‘Is Europe still possible?’ from Le Monde (16 December 1949)
TextOn 16 December 1949, reporting in the French daily newspaper Le Monde on the European Conference on Culture that has recently come to an end in Lausanne, the French literary historian and essayist, Pierre-Henri Simon, comments on the exchange of letters between the Swiss author, Denis de Rougement, and the Romanian writer, Virgil Gheorghiu, on the subject of whether there is still a way of saving the old Europe.
Max Richard, Images and works in Lausanne (January 1950)
TextIn January 1950, Max Richard, Editor-in-Chief of the French monthly publication Fédération, considers the European Conference on Culture held in Lausanne in December 1949 and gives an overview of the main debates which took place during the Conference.
‘The European Conference on Culture’ from La Revue des Deux Mondes (1 February 1950)
TextOn 1 February 1950, the Swiss writer, Robert de Traz, reports in the French monthly journal La Revue des Deux Mondes on the proceedings and the implications of the European Conference on Culture held in Lausanne from 8 to 12 December 1949.
The European Centre for Culture in Geneva
Address given by Denis de Rougemont at the inauguration of the European Centre for Culture (7 October 1950)
TextOn 7 October 1950, at the inauguration of the European Centre for Culture in Geneva, the Swiss essayist and federalist activist, Denis de Rougemont, delivers an address in which he identifies the main tasks of the Centre which has been placed under his supervision.
‘The European Centre for Culture is open in Geneva’ from the Journal de Genève (10 October 1950)
TextOn 10 October 1950, the daily newspaper Journal de Genève describes the opening ceremony of the European Centre for Culture and outlines the addresses given by the key figures present at this occasion.
Raymond Silva, Spiritual defence of Europe (November 1950)
TextIn November 1950, in an article in Fédération, Raymond Silva, French Secretary-General of the Union of European Federalists (UEF) and rapporteur of the Cultural Committee at the Congress of Europe in The Hague in May 1948, emphasises the ambitious task undertaken by the European Centre for Culture in Geneva and calls for the spiritual and cultural defence of Europe.
First Bulletin of the European Centre for Culture (May 1951)
TextIn May 1951, the European Centre for Culture, based in Geneva, publishes its first Bulletin in which it outlines the Centre’s structure and gives an overview of its activities.