Introducing ELIA's New Strategy

ELIA's Executive Director Maria Hansen introduces the new ELIA Strategy and working process. 

The dust is still settling after the 18th ELIA Biennial Conference hosted this year by NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan. First of all, I would like to extend my warm thanks to our hosts, and to all who attended this enlightening, multi-faceted 3-day conference: ‘Arts Plural’— centering around the definition, purpose and celebration of artistic intelligence. We asked our community to bring their practice, process and power and you came to Italy and our online satellite events in great numbers. Workshops, presentations and keynotes inspired all of us. 

The ELIA General Assembly was held on Saturday 23 November and I can happily announce, on behalf of the Representative Board, that the new ELIA Strategy was approved during this meeting. Guided through the process using the methodologies of For Planet Strategy Lab, the ELIA Executive Group and Team met as ELIA’s ‘entrepreneurial core’ to carefully unpack our essence as a network organisation and examine the binding agents that connect us as a community of multiple perspectives, cultures and voices. Many of you participated in the resonance sessions we held about the strategy and we are grateful for your input.  For those of you not yet connected to ELIA, we encourage you to join us and be part of this wave.

With over 290 member institutions based in 52 countries, ELIA is a growing, collective force. I invite you to take a look at the ELIA Strategy consisting of our VALUES and MISSIONS. See where our initiatives for 2025 and beyond are rooted. Understand the direction ELIA is heading and discover new opportunities, and ways you can get involved and make a difference to the higher arts education and research sector.

Read here>

We are also delighted to announce that ELIA will receive network funding under the EU’s Creative Europe programme for the coming four years. This project entitled ‘LUMINA’ will support ELIA’s strategic initiatives.  And finally, let me take this opportunity to thank and bid farewell to two of our Representative Board members; Magali Coué from École supérieure d'art et design de Saint-Étienne and Maren Schmohl from Hochschule für Gestaltung Schwäbisch Gmünd and  welcome Simone Pilon from Berklee Valencia – Berklee College of Music, and Alexander Damianisch from The University of Applied Arts Vienna. 

There are many new activities and developments on the horizon for ELIA and we look forward to working with you all to make them happen. Thank you again for your continued dedication and unwavering support. 

With warm regards, 

Maria Hansen

ELIA Executive Director

28 November, 2024