The current EMU Board (2024-2027) has set itself the goal of making the European Music School Union even more relevant and beneficial for music and arts schools across Europe. The focus is on creating clear benefits for members: stronger visibility, better exchange opportunities, more support, and a stronger voice for music and arts education at European level.
One of the Board’s key priorities is the development of a new EMU website together with a modern communication strategy. The new website will become a central platform for members, making it easier to access information, resources, examples of good practice, and news from across Europe. Together with a stronger social media presence and improved newsletters, EMU wants to make sure that members stay informed, connected, and inspired.
Another important aim is to strengthen exchange and dialogue throughout the year. EMU plans to introduce regular online formats that are open to music and arts schools across Europe. These formats will allow members to share experiences, discuss challenges, learn from each other, and discover innovative ideas in areas such as inclusion, digitisation, sustainability, and pedagogical developments.
Furthermore, the Board wants to further develop the Annual General Assembly and European Music School Forum into a broader European conference platform. In the future, this annual meeting may become a hybrid event, making it easier for members, music and art schools, leaders, educators, and stakeholders from across Europe to participate, even if they don’t travel in person.
Advocacy for music and arts education is one of the core missions of EMU. The board wants to strengthen the voice of music schools at European level and highlight the important role they play in society. In particular, the Board is committed to ensuring that children and young people everywhere in Europe have access to high-quality music and arts education, regardless of their background or where they live. The new CC-ECME project, in which EMU is a partner, will provide resources and tools to strengthen this commitment at all levels – European, national, regional and local.
Stronger advocacy will also directly benefit members by improving recognition of music and art schools, supporting better funding opportunities, and strengthening the place of arts education in national and European education policies.
This Board also wants to create more opportunities for students to connect with each other across borders. Strengthening exchange programmes besides our flagship, the European Youth Music Festival, such as Erasmus opportunities and other international projects, will help young people experience different cultures, build friendships, and grow through music and the arts. These activities are not only valuable for students. They also create new opportunities for schools and educators to build partnerships, exchange expertise, and increase their international visibility.
Participation is at the heart of EMU’s work. The Board wants students, educators, and member organisations to have a stronger voice in shaping the future of music and art schools in Europe. Through online formats, working groups, and conferences, members will have more opportunities to contribute ideas and help define EMU’s future priorities.
Together, these goals will help EMU become an even stronger partner for music and arts schools across Europe — offering members greater visibility, stronger networks, new professional opportunities, better access to knowledge and resources, and a stronger collective voice for music and arts education.
EMU Board 2025 Strategy and Priorites
