The Luxembourgish Presidency of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers has launched the publication "When posters speak out - Illustrating the Council of Europe's mission". A launch event at the National and University Library of Strasbourg, showcases a selection of posters aimed at raising awareness of the impact the Council of Europe has had, and continues to have, on the daily lives of millions of Europeans.
2024 marked both the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe, founded by ten member states, including Luxembourg, and the 70th anniversary of the 1954 European Cultural Convention.
"From the earliest days of the new international body, culture and its various manifestations were increasingly recognised as indispensable instruments for peacebuilding in Europe. Looking back at posters as a simple yet powerful communication tool was an effective way to review the milestones in the organisation's history and to highlight its key activities. The selection of Council of Europe posters included in this publication may seem arbitrary but choosing only 100 or so posters from over a thousand that illustrate 75 years of work was not an easy task," said Ambassador Patrick Engelberg, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the Council of Europe.
The aim of the European Cultural Convention is to foster mutual understanding between the peoples of Europe, promote respect for their cultural diversity and highlight national contributions to Europe's common cultural heritage.
"We hope that this particular selection of posters will reflect the preamble to the Convention, which celebrates the common heritage of the member states. Through this Convention, forty-six countries are united by shared ideals and principles, attached above all to their cultural diversity and unique history, as well as to intercultural dialogue. Today, in the eyes of the general public, posters continue to paint a picture of past events, serving as historical sources to establish what happened and what inspired those who came before us. Sifting through the archives, curating and staging the exhibition, and producing this publication underlines our unwavering commitment to this vibrant organisation, which, at 75 years young, remains so active in championing the fundamental principles of human rights, the rule of law and democracy."
