Eric Antonis (b. 1941) is one of the leading protagonists in the Flemish cultural sector. From 1995 to June 2004 he served as Alderman for Culture of the City of Antwerp. He was the artistic director of Antwerp Cultural Capital of Europe in 1993, which adopted ‘Art can save the world’ as its telling motto. His move into politics made it possible for him to develop a well-wrought cultural policy, with consideration for both the metropolitan and the small-scale. His previous posts have included business manager for the Zuidelijk Toneel theatre company in Eindhoven and general director of the Warande cultural center in Turnhout. Antonis writes prolifically and he chairs or serves as an adviser on many committees, including the Cultuur Lokaal (‘Local Culture’) organization in Brussels, the Festival of Flanders, the Flemish Opera, the Royal Ballet of Flanders, Muziekcentrum Eindhoven music centre, and Bozar (Centre for Fine Arts), Brussels.