Of course, we are aware of the benefits of joining forces and presenting concrete demands in concerted action when advocating to the world of policy and political decisionmakers. However, cooperating with partners is more than just that. Working jointly beyond publishing joint statements, increases the visibility of the sector as a whole and the credibility of what it is advocating for.

AEC is since long in friendly and constructive contact with numerous sister organisations such as ELIA, EUA, EAS and EMU. Commonly, we invite each other to contribute to our conferences. This year,  a next step of collaboration will be achieved, notably through the joint hosting of events:

  • The ELIA Academy takes place every second year, but this year for the first time in close cooperation with AEC. This cooperation is the result of an initiative launched by the two Stuttgart art academies, the State University of Music and the Performing Arts and the State Academy of Art and Design, which will jointly host this Academy from 25 to 27 September on the topic "What's going on here? Decoding Digitality in Higher Arts Education". One key element of the ELIA Academy 2019 is the presentation and discussion of innovative models of learning and teaching through digital means in all art disciplines and in interdisciplinarity. AEC and the Strengthening Music in Society (SMS) Working Group on Digitisation were already involved in the planning of the conference, and now we hope that this new and pleasant collaboration will also be reflected in the number of participants from the AEC membership. More information can be found on the ELIA Academy website.
  • From 29 to 30 October 2019, the IMZ Academy 2019 will take place in cooperation with AEC with the title "The complete performer of the future – embracing media skills in music education". This event will be hosted by MUK – Music and Art Private University of the City of Vienna. The aim of this IMZ Academy is to improve the media literacy of a future generation of musicians and to find answers to the question of how music education and curricula need to be adapted to prepare students effectively for the opportunities and challenges of the digital realm. The event is addressing all members of Higher Music Education Institutions (HMEIs), including the whole range from senior management level to first semester students. More information about the IMZ Academy can be found at the IMZ Academy website.
  • ENCATC, the European Network for Cultural Management and Policy, will hold its Annual Congress  from 2 to 5 October 2019 in Dijon. This year's congress will be dedicated to diversity and sustainability; models and examples of good practice in culture and education. The closeness to cultural education has prompted ENCATC to ask AEC to have its own panel at the congress, which we are happy to follow up on. Our ambition is to organise a panel in which various positions, expressed by members from the AEC community, will be brought together to discuss with the cultural management sector how (Higher) Music Education might actively contribute to the promotion of diversity and sustainability. More information about the ENCATC Annual Congress 2019 can be found on their website.