10-11-2026
6 November 2026
Hosted by the Deutscher Bühnenverein at the Hamburg State Opera on 5 and 6 November, the 72nd Pearle* conference brought together national federations representing live music and performing arts, European networks, and individual performing arts organisations for two days of exchanges and knowledge sharing.
One Year of the Culture Compass
Opening with a video message from Georg Haeusler, Director for Culture, Creativity and Sports at the European Commission, the conference celebrated the first anniversary of the Culture Compass. Barbara Gessler, Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Germany, gave a keynote exploring further the role of culture in EU’s cohesion and regional policy, and why cultural investment matters for regional development across Europe.
In a Declaration on the first year of the Culture Compass for Europe, Pearle* members welcome the initiative as an important step towards a stronger European policy for culture. While its four key directions broadly align with Pearle*’s 2024–2029 priorities, members stress that realising its ambitions requires action beyond the Culture Compass to address the practical needs of live performance organisations. They call on the European Commission to complement the Compass’s implementation with a dedicated action plan for the live performance sector, building on the concrete proposals set out in those priorities.
Pearle* president, Francisca Carneiro Fernandes said: “The Culture Compass sets an important vision for culture in Europe. Now we need concrete action to ensure that artists and cultural organisations have the conditions to create, produce and present live performance across Europe.”
Cybersecurity and AI: what about the live performance sector?
The conference also explored the opportunities and challenges of AI for the live performance sector, with workshops on working with AI and AI-driven data management, alongside a keynote by Prof. Dr Dennis Kipker from the cyberintelligence.institute on AI and cybersecurity.
Following a recent global alert that saw governments and cyber agencies rushing to patch critical PHP vulnerabilities, issues of online and data safety are in the spotlight.
In the live performance, cybersecurity has been a concern for many years, as organisations and enterprises process sensitive data from subscribers, donors, employees and audiences, while also running lighting, sound and stage machinery via network systems. Kipker provided avenues for strengthening digital security and ensuring that performances can take place smoothly and safely.
