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On the value of STEAM and arts education

A joint response to the Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Action Calls 2023 

Signatory organisations representing the diversity of the cultural field in Europe and the higher arts education fields, are particularly alarmed by the framing of STEAM education, research, and innovation presented by the European Commission in the Horizon Work Programme 2023–2024 Coordination and the Support Action Calls HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ERA-01 and HORIZON-CL2-2023-HERITAGE-01-08. 

By choosing to reinterpret the STEAM (Science Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) concept almost exclusively as a means to bridge the gender gap within the STEM fields, this framing undermines the original raison d’être of STEAM — its inherent potential to promote creativity and innovation.   

Problematic elements in the Horizon Europe calls   

  • The call unreasonably focuses almost exclusively on STEAM as a means to increase the participation of women in STEM disciplines. The result is a STEM-centred narrative about closing the gender gap and how this relates to competitiveness and innovation. 
  • As representatives of higher arts education and the cultural sector we cannot agree with the reductive narrative of STEAM proposed here. By instrumentalising the arts as a tool for the benefit of STEM, this narrative delegitimises the STEAM concept and reinforces outdated gender stereotypes. 
  • This reductive and concerning narrative already seems to be gaining credence. If widely adopted, it would have damaging consequences for the cultural and higher arts education fields and beyond. Thus, the need to re-establish a vision of STEAM that truly values the role of artistic disciplines, as previously recognised not only by the signatories of this paper but also by the European Commission.   

 

What STEAM should do 

STEAM should be used to valorise the potential of the arts and of arts education. More attention should also be given to understanding how including arts professionals in interdisciplinary teams can increase and unlock creative, imaginative, and innovative potential.  

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We ask you on behalf of your network or organisation to join the here undersigned networks, ELIA, AEC, CAE, and EMC, urging the European Commission, especially the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation 

  • to engage in dialogue with the higher arts education sector and cultural and creative sectors and industries (CCSIs) in order to adopt a more holistic view on STEAM and interdisciplinarity, to be integrated in future Horizon Europe Work Programmes and other strategic plans and policies;
  • to be an advocate, through its policies and funding, for the importance of creativity and other transversal skills provided by arts education;
  • to reconsider the narratives and focus areas presented in calls HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ERA-01, HORIZON-CL2-2023-HERITAGE-01-08, and related documents;
  • to come up with alternative strategies to address the gender gap in STEM.

On the Value of STEAM and Arts Education

252 signatures

Latest Signatures
252
Costanza B.
Italy 
Rome Academy of Fine Arts
251
Cisca W.
Netherlands 
University of groningen
250
Inês R.
Portugal 
European Commission
249
Sofia A.
Portugal 
Escola de Artes da Universidade de Évora
248
Niels G.
Denmark 
Nordisk Korforum
247
Janis G.
Latvia 
Art Academy of Latvia
246
Franziska S.
Germany 
DLR-PT
245
Bianca R.
Italy 
International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation
244
International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation _.
Belgium 
International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation
243
Isabelle D.
Belgium 
Belgium
242
Elisabetta T.
Finland 
-
241
Dimitrios M.
Greece 
Athens Conservastoire
240
Raphael S.
Poland 
King's College London
239
Martina F.
Belgium 
European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC)
238
Patrick S.
Austria 
Universität Mozarteum Salzburg
237
Veerle V.
Belgium 
LUCA School of Arts
236
Nicola V.
Italy 
Conservatorio di musica "Claudio Monteverdi" - Cremona
235
Ester T.
Austria 
mdw-University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
234
Andrea B.
France 
ESME School of Engineering, Ivry sur Seine (FR) & Conservatorio C.Monteverdi, Cremona, (IT)
233
Anna Maria I.
Italy 
Conservatorio Statale di Musica "L. D'Annunzio" - Pescara (Italy)
232
Sebastian C.
Germany 
Hochschule für Musik und Theater "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy" Leipzig
231
Leonella G.
Italy 
Brescia Conservatoire of music
230
Celia D.
United Kingdom 
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
229
Jacinta M.
Ireland 
TUS
228
Núria S.
Spain 
ESMUC, Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya
227
Pawel P.
Netherlands 
Design Academy Eindhoven
226
Paula C.
Sweden 
Stockholm University of the Arts
225
Ana T.
Portugal 
University of Évora - School of the Arts
224
Kristaps Z.
Latvia 
Art Academy of Latvia
223
Anna W.
Austria 
mdw
222
Susy S.
Portugal 
City of Lisbon
221
PATRIZIA L.
Italy 
CONSERVATORIO ER DUNI MATERA
220
Veronika L.
Austria 
mdw University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
219
Eugen B.
Austria 
Universität Mozarteum Salzburg
218
Gina K.
Bulgaria 
Academy of Music ,Dance and Fine arts 'Prof. Asen Diamandiev' - Plovdiv
217
Sarah M.
Israel 
Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance
216
Khalida D.
Australia 
Independent research
215
Prof. Dr.med.univ. Linde B.
Germany 
Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Trossingen
214
Helena G.
United Kingdom 
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
213
Bernie S.
Ireland 
PRESTO
212
Anna Maria B.
Italy 
Conservatoire Verdi Turin
211
Pietro P.
Italy 
Conservatorio G.Tartini Trieste
210
Riccardo S.
Italy 
Conservatorio Licinio Refice. Frosinone. Italy
209
Brian D.
Ireland 
Sing Ireland
208
Michael K.
Austria 
Gustav Mahler Private University of Music
207
Clarissa F.
Portugal 
University of Aveiro
206
Matthias K.
Germany 
Matthias Kadar
205
Hubert E.
Switzerland 
University school of music; University of Arts and Sciences of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI)
204
Riccardo C.
Italy 
Conservatorio di Musica Giuseppe Verdi, Milano
203
Maarit R.
Finland 
Caprice Oy
202
Jacques M.
France 
MusiQuE
201
Miren I.
Spain 
Musikene, Higher School of Music of the Basque Country
200
Beata F.
Hungary 
Liszt Academy of Music Kodály Institute
199
Martin P.
Netherlands 
Royal Conservatoire The Hague
198
MICHELANGELO G.
Italy 
Conservatorio di musica Santa Cecilia Roma
197
Jos S.
Netherlands 
University of the Arts Utrecht
196
Lamberto C.
United Kingdom 
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham City University
195
Sanja K.
Croatia 
University of Zagreb Academy of Music
194
maria luisa b.
Italy 
conservatorio di musica, Bologna
193
Eero L.
Finland 
Arts Academy at Turku University of Applied Sciences
192
Maria B.
Poland 
The Karol Lipiński Academy of Music in Wrocław
191
Stefan O.
Sweden 
Pitea School of Music at Lulea University of Technology
190
Raffaele L.
Italy 
Conservatorie of Music "S
189
Deborah K.
Ireland 
Royal Irish Academy of Music
188
Helena M.
Portugal 
University of Aveiro
187
Elke K.
Belgium 
Goethe-Institut
186
miruna a.
Romania 
Cluj Cultural Center
185
Mafalda R.
Portugal 
Cicant
184
Jeffrey C.
Ireland 
Irish College Leuven
183
Damiano L.
Italy 
ECASTELF01
182
Emanuela G.
Italy 
Professor and designer of STEAM projects in high schools
181
Jonathan B.
France 
ENSA-Limoges School of Art & Design
180
Lurdes M.
Portugal 
Universidade Lusófona
179
Kabwijamu P.
Uganda 
Gulu University
178
Siva B.
India 
UPES University
177
Alexandru B.
Romania 
UNATC IL Caragiale
176
Bianca v.
Netherlands 
HKU
175
Elisabeth B.
Germany 
Hildesheim
174
Heleen J.
Netherlands 
HKU
173
Stephanie O.
United Kingdom 
Arts University Plymouth
172
Elisa P.
Italy 
NABA
171
Višnja K.
Serbia 
UNESCO Chair in Cultural Policy and Management
170
Myrto-Helena P.
Germany 
Jugend- & Kulturprojekt e.V.
169
Pedro G.
Portugal 
Universidade de Évora
168
Barbara M. E.
Germany 
Merz Akademie
167
HASAN HAKAN O.
Turkey 
Toplumsal Fayda Derneği
166
Mário M.
Portugal 
200866605
165
AL Rubel Mohammad Bin A.
Bangladesh 
Personal
164
Gabriëlle S.
Netherlands 
Dutch Art Institute (a.k.a. DAI Roaming Academy)
163
Ingwio D.
Belgium 
LUCA School of Arts
162
Andreas M.
Germany 
Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF
161
Fabienne B.
Belgium 
LUCA School of Arts
160
Luis T.
Portugal 
Universidade Catolica Portuguesa
159
Ioana C.
France 
Association des Centres culturels de rencontre
158
Hana K.
Czech Republic 
Faculty of Multimedia Communication, Tomas Bata University in Zlin
157
Janis J.
United Kingdom 
Emeritus professor of visual arts
156
Magnus K.
Sweden 
bataki
155
Allison B.
Australia 
Griffith University
154
Noesjka K.
Netherlands 
st. Joost school of Art and Design
153
Leandro Mariano M.
United Kingdom 
Student
152
Constantina M.
Romania 
UNATC
151
Tiago M.
Portugal 
Faculty of Fine Arts Lisbon
150
Helena E.
Portugal 
Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon
149
Ferdinand R.
France 
The Fanak Fund
148
Angelika Z.
Austria 
University of Applied Arts Vienna
147
European Performing Arts S.
Belgium 
Monica Vejgaard
146
João d.
Portugal 
School of Arts and Design - Polytechnic of Leiria
145
Petra K.
Slovenia 
Motovila
144
Juliana R.
Portugal 
CICANT/ Lusófona
143
Stefan W.
Germany 
Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF
142
Ezilda C.
Italy 
ENEA
141
Antonia P.
Greece 
Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs - International Relations Unit - Directorate for European and International Affairs
140
Georg S.
Austria 
University of Music and Performing Arts Graz
139
Dimitri Y.
Greece 
Phoenix Athens Gallery and Residency
138
Teresa M.
Portugal 
ICNova
137
GiannaLia C.
Belgium 
ENCATC
136
Sara B.
Germany 
Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design
135
Eleonoor T.
Netherlands 
Tchernoff Advies
134
Massimo M.
Italy 
Euradia Italia
133
Guido T.
Italy 
NABA
132
Gijs d.
Netherlands 
LSE
131
Ramiro C.
Finland 
Myymälä2
130
Magali C.
France 
Ecole Supérieure d'art et design Saint-Etienne (ESADSE)
129
Frans H.
Netherlands 
NVP-UNIMA-Netherlands
128
Diana S.
United Kingdom 
Royal College of Music
127
Werner D.
Belgium 
Artesis Plantijn University College Antwerp (RCA)
126
Milena D.
Serbia 
University of Arts, Belgrade
125
Ana O.
Portugal 
Lusofona University
124
Richard W.
United Kingdom 
University of Plymouth
123
John B.
Netherlands 
EQ-Arts
122
Hana P.
Czech Republic 
Janáček Academy of Performing Arts, Theatre Faculty
121
Alejandra G.
Argentina 
ISME Commission for the Education of the Professional Musician CEPROM
120
Kapka M.
Bulgaria 
Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar"
119
Carlos P.
Portugal 
Universidade Lusófona
118
Blanka C.
Czech Republic 
Janacek Academy of Performing Arts
117
Huib Haye v.
Netherlands 
Self-employed
116
Murvet Nevra K.
Turkey 
Sakarya University
115
ellis b.
Netherlands 
ellisinwonderland
114
Iliana D.
Bulgaria 
NATFA
113
Peter D.
Belgium 
Orpheus Instituut
112
Giovanna C.
Italy 
Conservatory of Castelfranco Veneto
111
Lisa H.
United Kingdom 
The Margate School
110
Shpend B.
Albania 
Albanian University
109
Renee T.
Netherlands 
Willem de Kooning Academy
108
GEOFF O.
United Kingdom 
THE MARGATE SCHOOL
107
Martina H.
Ireland 
University of Galway
106
Uwe D.
United Kingdom 
The Margate School Ltd
105
Gregory S.
United Kingdom 
University of Westminster
104
Emanuele A.
Italy 
Istituto per l'Arte e il Restauro - Palazzo Spinelli
103
Catherine B.
Italy 
Istituto per l'Arte e il Restauro - Palazzo Spinelli
102
Liz E.
Netherlands 
Royal Netherlands Navy
101
Derville Q.
Netherlands 
ELIA
100
Marjolijn B.
Netherlands 
ArtEZ, University of the Arts
99
Vivian Sky R.
Belgium 
Research Center Willem de Kooning Academy and Rotterdam Arts & Sciences Lab
98
Magnus Q.
Finland 
UNIARTS Helsinki
97
Florian H.
Germany 
Berlin University of the Arts
96
Kathrin G.
Germany 
University of the Arts Bremen
95
Yorgos T.
Greece 
ACEY Europe
94
Cora S.
Netherlands 
Willem de Kooning Academy
93
Susanne v.
France 
CNSMDL
92
Dervil J.
Ireland 
National College of Art and Design Ireland
91
Diana A.
Romania 
West University of Timisoara Faculty of Arts And Design
90
Andreas T.
Turkey 
Bilkent University
89
Anna CY C.
Hong Kong 
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
88
Laura S.
Albania 
Albanian University
87
Carole W.
Ireland 
Research University CIT
86
Conceicao C.
Portugal 
Lusófona University
85
Alexandra C.
Portugal 
UL - Lusófona University
84
Liselotte V.
Belgium 
KU Leuven, Departement of Architecture
83
stephen f.
United Kingdom 
Arts University Plymouth
82
Levan K.
Georgia 
Arts Research Institute of Georgia
81
Marjanne P.
Netherlands 
HKu University of the Arts Utrecht
80
Guillermo R.
Spain 
Kubbo
79
Ceyda B.
Finland 
MiklagardArts
78
Mimi H.
United Kingdom 
Mimi Harmer
77
Nuno T.
Portugal 
Universidade Lusófona
76
David N.
Portugal 
Lusofona University
75
Susanne M.
Germany 
IGBK
74
Débora R.
Brazil 
ULP
73
Ron B.
Canada 
Emily Carr University of Art and Design
72
Lícia P.
Brazil 
Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of southern Minas Gerais - IFSULDEMINAS
71
Peter B.
Belgium 
AP University of Applied Sciences & Art/Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp
70
Yara E.
Lebanon 
-
69
Valérie S.
Belgium 
KASK & Conservatorium
68
Fahim M.
Germany 
ABK Stuttgart
67
Cor G.
Netherlands 
Hanze UAS Groningen
66
Chris V.
Belgium 
Expertise Cantre for Technical Theatre RITCS-EhB
65
Sandra R.
Portugal 
Lusófona University
64
Darinka P.
Hungary 
Idependent
63
Petra V.
Belgium 
Sint Lucas Antwerpen - School of Arts KdG
62
Sandra G.
Netherlands 
Stichting Le Porte-Voix / Master Community Development
61
Jenna N.
Spain 
Ministry of Education
60
Teresina M.
Germany 
59
Fiona Q.
Ireland 
Limerick School of Art and Design (TUS)
58
Mateja L.
Slovenia 
Motovila Institute
57
Nurgul R.
Canada 
University of Calgary
56
Paul K.
United States 
Northern Illinois University
55
John O.
Ireland 
Technological University Dublin
54
Nicoletta C.
Italy 
Uniarts Helsinki
53
Alec S.
United Kingdom 
Wrexham Glyndwr University
52
Isabelle S.
Netherlands 
European Cultural Foundation
51
Lefteris H.
United Kingdom 
Bath Spa University
50
Manuela M.
Germany 
EMCY e.V.
49
Giselle H.
Ireland 
LSAD/TUS
48
Julia L.
United Kingdom 
UK
47
Simone I.
Malta 
Arts Council Malta
46
Susana M.
Portugal 
Universidade de Évora
45
Filipe R.
Portugal 
Universidade de Évora
44
Margarida S.
Portugal 
Lusófona university
43
Noel K.
Ireland 
Visual Artists Ireland
42
Nic U.
United States 
University of South Carolina
41
Louise O.
United Kingdom 
Ulster University
40
Consuelo R.
United Kingdom 
SENSORIAL
39
Gyorgyi F.
Hungary 
Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design
38
Rollin P.
United States 
Village of Barrington, IL, USA
37
Arben L.
Albania 
University of Arts Tirana
36
Jan H.
Czech Republic 
Academy of Performing Arts in Prague
35
Ágnes Karolina B.
Hungary 
Innovation Center of Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design
34
Steven S.
United Kingdom 
Kingston University
33
Angelina Svilenova K.
Austria 
Akademie der bildenden Künste
32
Rebecca D.
Estonia 
Estonian Academy of Art
31
Mike F.
Ireland 
Technological University of the Shannon
30
Franco R.
Italy 
Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma
29
Pjeter G.
Albania 
Universiteti i Arteve, Tirane
28
Georg R.
Austria 
Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
27
Colin C.
France 
UK/France
26
Alastair H.
United Kingdom 
Royal College of Art
25
Maria Concepcion G.
Spain 
Complutense University, Madrid
24
Kathryn M.
United Kingdom 
Birmingham City University
23
Martina C.
Ireland 
Technological University of The Shannon
22
Tuire R.
Finland 
Metropolia University of Applied Science
21
Conall C.
Ireland 
MTU Crawford College of Art & Design
20
Loraine L.
United Kingdom 
Middlesex University
19
Katrin Olina P.
Iceland 
Iceland University of the Arts
18
Sanja B.
Croatia 
UNIVERSITY OF RIJEKA
17
Ulrich W.
Germany 
SABAA.education / kukutana
16
CORINNE S.
Belgium 
Michael Culture
15
Yohann F.
France 
FACE
14
Jose Angel P.
Spain 
Red Arrayan de Cultura, Patrimonio y Medio Ambiente
13
Paola R.
Spain 
Red Arrayan
12
Alessandra G.
Italy 
Fondazione Fitzcarraldo
11
ildiko m.
Germany 
former EIT
10
Georgios M.
Greece 
Stimmuli for Social Change
9
Nina G.
Poland 
WZORZEC
8
Iveri K.
Sweden 
Lund University
7
Dušanka J.
Serbia 
independent researcher
6
KONSTANTINA K.
Greece 
Stimmuli for Social Change
5
katty V.
Belgium 
Federation for European Storytelling
4
Cristina L.
Italy 
CAE
3
Joost H.
Netherlands 
Values of Culture&Creativity
2
Robert M.
Croatia 
Europa Nova
1
Micaela C.
Italy 
Teatro dell’Argine

 

Consortium partners

Launched on Monday 29 May 2023 @ 12pm CEST by the signatory networks:  

AEC, Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen  

CAE, Culture Action Europe  

ELIA, globally connected European network for higher arts education   

EMC, European Music Council