“Culture gives citizens a sense of community and integration”. According to a new Eurobarometer survey published by the European Commission today, citizens “strongly support cultural exchange, artistic freedom and fair working conditions for artists”. They also call for a stronger EU role to protect heritage and respond to the impact of new technologies. 87% of respondents “agree that culture and cultural exchange should have a very important place in the EU, so that citizens feel more European”. 86% say that cultural heritage “is important for Europe, confirming that culture is valued not only in current life but also as part of the past”. A similar percentage of respondents say that culture and the arts are important for welfare and economic development. Artistic freedom “remains a pillar of democratic societies” and 88% of Europeans said that it matters to them. 77% believe that artists “can freely express their ideas and opinions without fear of censorship or retaliation by their government”. However, the perception of artistic freedom varies from one Member State to another. 49% of respondents indicated that they participated in artistic activities in the previous 12 months. At the same time, 73% of surveyed Europeans are concerned that the rise of generative AI “may have an impact on employment or earnings for artists”.