The performing arts in all countries in Europe are supported by government. But then all resemblance stops. Scope, depth, nature and mass of state support differ widely from one country to another. States, provinces, regions and municipalities all have different expectations, roles and schemes in their financial support of the performing arts. The Dutch Association of Theatres and Concert Halls (VSCD) in cooperation with the Boekman Foundation and Pearle* organizes an international conference on best practices in government support of the performing arts. Questions to be dealt with are: * what tendencies in government support of culture and the performing arts are dominant? * what happy examples of effective and fruitful government policies can be presented? * what best practices can be identified from which other countries can benefit? Scholars from Finland, Estonia, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, France, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Bulgaria, Rumania, Slovenia, Italy, Ireland and Greece have been asked to write a short essay on the way the (performing) arts are embedded in and supported by their governments, how is the state in their country acting on stage, and what policies or programs can be proudly presented?