The development of art and cultural practices is closely intertwined with current events as well as the uneven changes of human sensibility and thought. Similarly, cultural arts policies must adapt and respond appropriately to present changes in society, in order to foster a relevant dialogue between diverse communities. Only through continuous evolution and understanding can art and culture bring individuals together, overcoming the barriers and walls that might divide European society.

In this paper, I will discuss the impact of immigration on European Cultural Policies, and how changes in policy reflect a shift in focus regarding art and cultural projects. I will also elaborate on how policy has been translated into cultural programming. This analysis also considers the shifting financial objectives and programmes that have interested creative industries in Europe. Through the analysis of two policy documents –  the 2007 European Agenda for Culture and the follow-up New European Agenda for Culture, published in 2018 – this paper discusses how a shared European identity can arise through the perseverance of contamination and fluidity from encounters with extra-European identities.