Dear AEC colleagues and friends,
As a new academic year gets underway, I am delighted to welcome you to the September AEC Newsletter. It has already been an energetic month across our network, reminding us of the value of coming together to exchange ideas, learn from one another and strengthen our community.
Earlier this month, International Relations Coordinators from across our membership gathered in Trento for their Annual Meeting. Under the theme Common Ground – Diverse Pathways, colleagues explored the changing landscape of international cooperation in higher music education, from mobility and digital transformation to artificial intelligence and global partnerships. AEC has also continued to make our sector’s voice heard at European level, contributing to European Commission consultations on the EU budget, education, artificial intelligence and working conditions.
I ask you to save the date of 23rd October, when AEC members will have another important opportunity for dialogue, bringing different international perspectives to the complex question of how our community responds to political conflict. We are keen to develop an approach for AEC that is grounded in your views, so these exchanges mean a lot.
Finally, I look forward very much to seeing many of you at our Annual Congress in Hamburg, between 4th and 7th November. Please remember to register by 12th October. I wish everyone an inspiring and rewarding year ahead.
Deborah
Kelleher
AEC President
AEC launches a campaign calling on national governments to secure a strong place for culture, music education and artistic research in the 2028–2034 EU budget, including the new National and Regional Partnership Plans. Members will receive a campaign pack in October. Plus, our latest policy submissions.
Last days to register for the AEC Congress, 4 to 7 November in Hamburg! Registration closes on 12 October, or earlier if full. Each member institution can send up to five representatives, including at least one student. Erasmus funding, travel bursaries and Green Travel Incentives can help cover costs.
The 26th IRC Annual Meeting brought 230 participants from 36 countries to Trento, around the theme Common Ground – Diverse Pathways. Highlights included 10 years of EASY, workshops, AEC Talks, a BIP concert and a boat trip on Lake Garda. The next meeting will be held in Glasgow from 8 to 11 September 2027.
Under the title "Music Across Borders", 80 professionals from more than 15 countries met in Milan to network, share best practices and design new partnerships. Highlights included a concert by the Erasmus Orchestra, keynotes on AEC network projects and a BarCamp shaping future Erasmus+ proposals.
Contribute to the AEC Pop and Jazz Platform Meeting 2027 in Amsterdam! Submit a proposal for a Workshop or Open Floor Session and join the conversation on creativity, education and human connection in the age of AI. Deadline: 1 November 2026.
How should AEC respond when conflicts and crises affect our community? Join the AEC Members Online Session on 23 October at 11:00 CET to share your experiences and contribute to a transparent framework.
At the AEC Congress, MusiQuE will lead a brainstorming session on interdisciplinarity and collaboration in arts institutions on Friday 6 November. In 2026, the agency has carried out reviews, critical friend visits and follow-ups across Europe and beyond, with new procedures and evaluations.
Classical:NEXT is an international meeting point for innovators in classical and art music. Proposals from across the sector are welcome, and conservatoire staff, students and ensembles working on new approaches are well placed to take part. A separate Film Showcase call opens in early November.
The symposium explores the role of artistic practice in civic participation, cultural identity and social change. Paper proposals on artistic citizenship and socially engaged practice are welcome from any discipline and career stage. Abstracts of up to 300 words are due by 15 November 2026.
Celebrate World Opera Day on 25 October with #OperaConnects. Share how your institution connects people across borders, languages and cultures through exchanges, collaborations, masterclasses and partnerships, and highlight opera’s power to bring communities together.
OAcademy has opened auditions for its 2027 Global Artist Diploma, a six-month programme combining advanced artistic training with career development. Open to musicians worldwide, it offers expert mentorship, flexible online training and a 70% tuition bursary for all admitted fellows.
Doctors in Performance is a festival conference for performers doing artistic research at doctoral and post-doctoral level. Recitals, lecture recitals and papers are welcome, with performance-based submissions particularly encouraged. The deadline is 28 February 2027.
Spotlight for Publications
AEC is pleased to highlight these recent publications from across our community.
The Transformative Politics of Music Education, edited by Tuulikki Laes, Gert Biesta and Heidi Westerlund
Health promotion in tertiary music institutions: a position paper, by Raluca Matei, B. Ackermann, J. Allen, et al.
AEC Events
4-7 November, 2026
Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg
AEC Vacancy Platform
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
