The performing arts sector is changing quickly. Productions are expected to be more sustainable, digital tools are reshaping how work is made and presented, and the people working behind the scenes are asked to take on ever wider responsibilities. INSPIRE is a European-funded response to that shift: a free online learning platform designed to give students and professionals the practical skills the sector now needs.

What the platform offers

The training is organised around three areas:

  • Green and digital competencies for producing work more sustainably
  • Entrepreneurial and resilience skills for navigating an evolving cultural landscape
  • Practical tools for performance production managers, set designers, stage directors, facilities managers and stage technicians

The platform is made up of five modules. For each one they complete, learners receive a certification from ACQUIN, the Accreditation, Certification and Quality Assurance Institute, a recognised credential they can carry into their professional lives.

Why it matters for your institution

Much of what INSPIRE covers sits in the space between artistic training and professional practice: the production, technical and organisational skills that graduates need but that are not always part of a conservatoire or academy curriculum. Sharing the platform is a straightforward way to give your students access to structured, quality-assured training in exactly those areas — at no cost to them or to your institution.

It also complements what many of our members are already doing on sustainability and digital transformation, offering a ready-made resource rather than something that needs to be built from scratch.

About the project

INSPIRE brings together three higher and vocational education and training centres and eight labour market actors across six European countries. Its aim is to upskill both current and prospective professionals: production managers, set designers, artistic and stage directors, facilities managers, stage technicians, as well as the VET and higher education professionals who train them.

Behind this sits a larger ambition: that the performing arts sector should not simply adapt to the sustainability transition, but help drive it, in Europe and beyond.

Get started

Creating an account takes only a few minutes. Explore the platform at inspire-performing-arts.eu, or browse the available resources directly on the e-learning platform page.

We would be grateful if you could pass this on through your institution’s channels: to students, teachers and anyone in your network who might benefit.