The European Commission’s Proposal on the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), which is part of the legislative proposals for the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021 – 2027 extended the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) acronym to STEAM – with the A standing for 'the Arts'.
This is not only a recognition of the significance of cultural education, but it should also open up new funding opportunities for art and cultural education.
On 26 September 2018, AEC and ELIA attended the Stakeholders meeting from the CULT Committee at the European Parliament. During the meeting, Culture Action Europe endorsed and repeated the proposal to change the acronym of STEM to STEAM, as it is important for the arts to be represented and included in this group of academic disciplines.
For more information, please read the AEC position paper on further developing ESF+ below.
