From Conversation to Action: Spring at ELIA

This spring marks an exciting and important moment for the ELIA community. Maria Hansen, ELIA Executive Director, reflects on recent in-person meetings with our Representative Board in Amsterdam, her attendance at the inauguration of EKA's new Rector, new advocacy initiatives, and upcoming events. 

It was wonderful to welcome the members of the Representative Board in Amsterdam a couple of weeks ago. While we often meet online – to keep our carbon footprint as low as possible – meeting in person occasionally really makes a difference. From my perspective, the Representative Board does exactly what its name suggests: it represents the voice of our members in our decision-making. This is no small task, and I am forever grateful to all our board members for taking the time to be part of this important conversation. Of course, beyond the formal meetings, there’s the time spent together over coffee, lunch, and dinner with the ELIA team – and sometimes I wonder whether even more work gets done then! 

Last week, I had the honour of attending the inauguration of Hilkka Hiiop as the new Rector of the Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA), with the President of Estonia, Alar Karis, in attendance. In my toast to Hilkka, I was proud to reflect on our close collaboration, particularly the ELIA Leadership Symposium EKA co-hosted in 2022 with the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. As a conservator Hilkka brings deep expertise and vision to this new role, and I look forward to seeing how her leadership will shape future dialogues, especially as the field of art conservation gains importance across the ELIA network. 

Speaking up on behalf of the sector through our advocacy work is one of ELIA’s strategic missions. As you may have seen, ELIA recently issued a key position paper on the future of Framework Programme 10 (FP10), the EU’s research and innovation funding programme. The Representative Board members have committed to supporting this institutionally, and we invite you to do the same. The more support we have, the more relevant our input will be. You can read more about it here and endorse the campaign – and thank you to those who have already signed the position paper. 

You will probably have noticed your inbox filling up with event updates from ELIA. I am particularly excited that we have been able to announce another event in our Dialogue Series, Higher Arts Education in Times of Conflict, where we will explore again how international communities can support higher arts education in times of instability, and imagine pathways towards reconstruction. Our next session highlights projects and applied research that engage with reconstruction, the power of storytelling, critical reflection, justice, and sensitivity. Please do join us online on Tuesday, 6 May – and feel free to share with your colleagues too. These conversations are vital if we are to continue learning from each other, even when we don’t always agree. 

Looking ahead, several in-person events are coming up. I am especially looking forward to the ELIA Academy 2025 in Oslo, focusing on teaching and learning under the theme Life-Integrated Learning. Life – as opposed to ‘just’ work. Together, we will explore the role higher arts education can play in the lives of students and staff, when teaching and learning embrace the physical, emotional, environmental, societal, technological, and political dimensions we all face in our daily lives. I’m thrilled to let you know that 27 students from all around the world will be joining us – all selected through a special call for student contributions for the ELIA Academy, with funding provided by ELIA’s wonderful supporting members. And of course, mid-June finds Oslo almost at midsummer, with those special white nights you won't want to miss.  

Finally, if you’re feeling inspired to get even more involved in the ELIA community, do consider applying to join one of our Community Hub working groups. Calls are now open for Arts Education for All and Future Readiness working groups – you’ll find more information in this newsletter.