Last week, the European Commission unveiled its new Culture Compass for Europe – the first strategic document proposed by Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport. I attended the launch event organised for the sector by Culture Action Europe in Brussels, and I can report to you that overall, we are pleased with the content of the Culture Compass, a European framework for cultural policy, which positions culture as a cornerstone of Europe’s identity, democratic resilience, and global engagement. It sets out what looks like an ambitious vision built around strengthening cultural rights and European values, empowering artists and cultural professionals, fostering creativity and heritage as engines of cohesion and competitiveness, and deepening international cultural cooperation. Culture and arts education are included, and at ELIA, we are very pleased that our ongoing lobby in this regard has paid off. So far, so good – the Culture Compass marks an important moment for our sector, signalling a renewed commitment to culture at the highest policy level – if it can be implemented. Lots of work for the ELIA Team and Representative Board to do in the coming months to ensure that ELIA members are represented well in this campaign. 

 

To me, the launch event, hosted at LUCA School of Arts (an ELIA supporting member) in Brussels, was remarkable not only for the content presented but for the atmosphere in the room. Students were invited to join the discussion, to engage directly with Commissioner Micallef and to bring their own reflections to the table. Their contributions weren’t an add-on; they were a meaningful part of the conversation, and they shifted the event’s tone and depth in noticeable ways. 

 

This experience resonates strongly with ELIA’s own direction. Student voices are essential to the future of higher arts education, and we have seen its impact firsthand at ELIA – most recently during our Leadership Symposium in Geneva, where the student cohort’s presence was met with enthusiasm and appreciation. Their insights challenged assumptions, broadened perspectives, and reminded us why inclusive leadership is so crucial. 

 

It is in that spirit of intergenerational dialogue and shared leadership that we are opening the call for hosts for the 2027 ELIA Leadership Symposium. We welcome member institutions that feel inspired to shape the next edition of this gathering and to bring their own vision - including a strong commitment to student participation - to the forefront. If your institution would like to explore hosting or has questions about what the role involves, please feel free to reach out to our office at info@elia-artschools.org. More about the process in this newsletter! 

 

Another exciting opportunity is our call for contributions for the ELIA Biennial 2026: Going Off Centre. We invite our community, including students, to ‘go off centre’ and shape the programme in Zwolle, Netherlands. Bring forward alternative methods, new modalities, and even moments of failure and resistance that move us towards new possibilities. Read the full call and save the date!