The European Union, now 27 members strong, started from the germ of an idea: the conviction that European nations must join together to spare future generations the brutal ravages of wars which had over and again brought death and destruction to the continent. To reach the national publics and gain their support, proponents of the European project utilised various media, including posters. With slogans like “L'Europe unie, une victoire pour tous”, “Europa dipende da te” or “Cooperation means prosperity”, the posters conveyed core messages of European unity. Historically, they have served as a crucial tool for engagement, using striking imagery to advocate for democracy, diversity, social rights, and a shared European identity. Their widespread circulation made them a potent medium for political and social messaging during the post-war period.
To mark its fortieth anniversary and to celebrate the 2024 World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, the Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU) has published a book and online exhibit entitled The Art of Integration: 40 Posters Promoting Europe. The book draws from the Nicola Di Gioia poster collection, preserved in the Archives’ holdings. Deposited there in 2018 by Di Gioia’s sons Fabio and Lamberto Di Gioia, the vast collection testifies to how posters not only served to inform and keep the public up-to-date, but also, with their symbolism and messaging, sought to forge a European consciousness.
The Art of Integration presents 40 posters, one for each year of the HAEU’s public activities. The publication is introduced by HAEU Director Dieter Schlenker, and it includes thematic sections by historian Jacopo Cellini. Fabio Di Gioia describes the inspiration behind his father’s collection. Additionally, audio-visual archivist Juan Alonso comments on the technical and historical value of the documents.
The Archives has published the book and the related online exhibit on its multimedia platform to coincide with the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage on 27 October. This global initiative, led by UNESCO and the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations (CCAAA), highlights the importance of preserving audiovisual materials and acknowledges the work of professionals who safeguard this heritage for future generations.
Explore the online exhibition and consult the book.