Building on the success and the outcomes of previous projects such as POLIFONIA, FULL SCORE, SMS, and most recently ARTEMIS, AEC’s new strategic plan reaffirms AEC’s contribution to building resilient societies by elevating the role of music and higher music education as powerful drivers of cultural, social, and educational impact.

Objectives and Priorities

The five priorities of the Creative Network funding provided by the European Commission align closely with the AEC Strategy 2030. AEC has planned to address the five priorities outlined in the EU Creative Europe call as follows:

  1. Empowering Artists and Cultural Professionals
    Through mentorship, CPD programmes, and stronger links between education and the professional music world, AEC aims to equip emerging artists for sustainable, healthy, and digitally adept careers.
  2. Enhancing Cultural Participation
    AEC will promote cultural citizenship by enabling artists to engage diverse and underrepresented audiences through performances in unconventional spaces – from shopping malls to hospitals – thus enhancing social inclusion and wellbeing.
  3. Unleashing the Power of Culture for the Planet
    With inspiration from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), AEC will both support greener practices, building on the recommendations for green transition in HME developed in the ARTEMIS project as well as focusing on strong and healthy learning environments linking to the experience from the PRIhME project.
  4. Fostering Co-Creative Partnerships Beyond the EU
    International relations and collaboration are at the core of AEC’s activities. AEC foresees increased cooperation between European EU- and non-EU institutions as well as creating new relations with HMEIs in Africa and South America.
  5. Driving Digital Transformation
    Digital tools such as AI, and data-driven innovation are core themes in upcoming guidelines regarding their integration into curricula and artistic practice. The creation of a Digital Music Laboratory and expert-led webinars will support HMEIs in embracing the digital shift.

Work Plan and Activities

The AEC Office is currently working on a detailed Work Plan for 2025-2028, which will unfold around a dynamic structure of Working Groups (WGs), Task Forces (TFs), and Stakeholder Networks.

Key working groups will include both existing and new groups, such as an Education & Profession WG, a Music & Society WG, the International Relations Coordinators WG, and a Digitisation WG.

Standing working groups and task forces such as the Advocacy Task Force, the SCHEME group and the AEC/YMTE Joint working group will continue their activities and deliver input to the project.

The work plan also includes cross-cutting support for initiatives like the European Performing Arts Students’ Association (EPASA) and the DEI Panel of Experts, which is the first initiative that has already been launched.

Looking Ahead

Please keep an eye on the AEC website and newsletters in the coming months for updates on calls for working groups and more details on the content of the work plan.

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact the AEC Office: info@aec-music.eu