As the arts are important agents of creativity and innovation, the two largest representative European organisations for higher arts education ELIA (European League of Institutes of the Arts) and AEC (European Association of Conservatoires) would like to draw attention to the artistic dimensions of creativity and innovation and focus on the role the arts can play in fostering creativity and innovation in our societies.
In line with their mission, the two organisations have organized an event that launched the EU Year for Creativity and Innovation 2009 in an artistic manner. The event included performances by young dancers and musicians, as well as short films produced by film students throughout Europe for the E3'film - languages through lenses competition.
The Artistic Launch of EYCI took place on Tuesday 20 January 2009. The venue was Hotel Bloom in Brussels, which is famous for its creative and innovative interior design with mural paintings made by 300 selected art students from different European countries.
Speeches were given by:
- EU Commissioner Ján Figel
- Chair of the European Parliament Culture Committee Katerina Batzeli
- Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the EU Milena Vicenova
ELIA President Chris Wainwright and AEC President Johannes Johansson presented the joint recommendations from both organizations to further the aims of the Year of Creativity and Innovation. You can read these recommendations in the AEC/ELIA Position Paper on Creativity and Innovation.
Carla Delfos, Chris Wainwright, Ján Figel, Johannes Johansson, Martin Prchal
