Project Overview
IartNET aims to strengthen the internationalization of Italian Higher Arts and Music Education (AFAM) institutions by fostering transnational cooperation grounded in connectivity, experimentation, innovation, and diversity. Designed as a system-wide project, IartNET operates through collaborative networks to generate shared benefits across the AFAM sector.
Main Objectives
- Enhance Digital Access and Visibility
To expand the digital accessibility of artistic practice-led research and cultural heritage within AFAM, enabling:- broader national and international access to previously limited materials;
- renewed recognition of AFAM institutions within the long tradition of Italian artistic excellence;
- interdisciplinary and cross-sector dialogue linking historical heritage with contemporary artistic production to foster community-building and innovation.
- Strengthen International Attractiveness
To develop an international network of higher arts and music education institutions committed to sharing:- data and documentation related to artistic research and cultural heritage;
- knowledge, models, and best practices for internationalization aligned with European policy frameworks.
- Support the Development of Research Structures
To establish an international hub for artistic research in Italy capable of:- forming a community of supervisors and experts;
- designing new third-cycle (doctoral-level) programs consistent with the Bologna Process.
Key Deliverables
- An Interoperable Database and English-Language Web Portal
Providing open-access resources on cultural heritage and contemporary artistic and educational projects, developed in accordance with the Italian Digital Library and European standards. - An International Network for Training and Collaboration
Supporting professional development, exchanges, and peer-to-peer dialogue to address the current lack of institutional capacity for internationalization in AFAM. - An International Hub for Artistic Research
Creating a platform for developing interdisciplinary research projects, postgraduate offerings, and evaluation criteria for artistic research aligned with international standards.
Impact
These actions respond to structural challenges within AFAM institutions—such as the lack of English-language content, limited English-taught programs, and scarcity of graduate and doctoral offerings. The project will:
- enhance the international visibility of AFAM institutions;
- improve the quality of arts education for domestic and international students;
- strengthen AFAM’s role within global academic and cultural networks;
- contribute to the broader digital transition in the cultural and creative sectors.
Work Packages 3 and 4 – AEC Contribution
WP3 – Internationalization
Within WP3, IartNET includes the organization of a three-day international workshop (29–31 January 2026), hosted by the Conservatorio “L. Marenzio” in Brescia. The workshop focuses on Erasmus mobility, international project design, and the digitalization of academic and administrative processes within AFAM institutions.
The activity is developed in collaboration with the Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen (AEC) and represents a key WP3 action. AEC contributes to the definition of the workshop programme and to the involvement of international experts. The activity also includes the establishment of a Scientific Committee on Internationalization, with members selected by AEC in agreement with the Conservatory.
WP4 – International Hub for Artistic Research
WP4 supports the development of an International Hub for Artistic Research through the implementation of a cycle of five international webinars (January 2025 – March 2026), curated by AEC in cooperation with the Conservatory. The webinar series follows the EPARM 2024 model and thematic framework.
Each webinar includes one international speaker and one discussant appointed by AEC. The contents address:
- models and definitions of artistic research;
- governance of doctoral programs in the arts;
- evaluation and documentation of results;
- interdisciplinarity between the arts, science, and technology;
- international networks and best practices.
The webinars are produced and moderated by AEC in coordination with the Conservatory. Recordings are disseminated through the official IartNET and Conservatory channels.
