Every music and art school system in Europe has its own history, structure and culture. Often, these differences are mentioned quickly in European meetings. But they become much more interesting when there is time to look more closely: how a system works, what has grown over time, where its strengths lie, and what colleagues from other countries may learn from it.
This was the idea behind the new EMU format Meet our Members, introduced at the EMU Conference 2026 in Prague. The first session was dedicated to AZUŠ ČR, the Czech member association and host of this year’s General Assembly, Forum and Conference.
The conversation opened a detailed view into a system that is both very stable and surprisingly flexible. The Czech system of music and art schools is impressive in its scale and depth. More than 500 schools, around 250,000 pupils and around 11,500 teachers form a strong public structure for music and arts education. Music, dance, drama, literary arts and visual arts are all part of this system, which gives the schools a broad interdisciplinary artistic profile and a long tradition of working across different art forms.
One aspect that was particularly interesting for many EMU members was the funding model. Teachers’ salaries are paid by the state within a national salary system, which gives schools a high level of stability. At the same time, school leaders still have autonomy and responsibility. They manage finances, make decisions within their local context and can shape their schools in meaningful ways.
The same became visible when discussing curriculum and lessons. Rooted in a long tradition of music and arts education, the Czech system brings music, dance, drama, literary arts and visual arts together. What stood out was the strong role of individual lessons, combined with the possibility for schools to adapt their curriculum within the national framework and reflect local needs, traditions and specific artistic profiles.
The discussion also showed how carefully AZUŠ ČR has built relationships around the sector: with the Ministry and public administration, with partners such as the Czech Philharmonic and the Magdalena Kožená Foundation, with Czech Radio as an important cooperation partner, and with the wider public through formats like ZUŠ Open – Nationwide Festival of Elementary Art Schools.
This is advocacy in a very concrete sense. Music and art schools become visible not only through arguments, but through the quality of their work, the strength of their partnerships and the moments in which their public value can be experienced.
The first Meet our Members session showed why such a format is useful for the wider EMU community. Across Europe, music and art school systems are very different. But exactly these differences can become a source of learning when they are presented with depth, openness and context.
The exchange with AZUŠ ČR created a space for sharing and connecting. It offered a closer look at a system in which public responsibility, artistic breadth, school autonomy and strong representation come together in a distinctive way. This is where European exchange becomes valuable: when there is time to understand another context more carefully, to share experiences as they are lived, and to discover which questions, ideas or practices might inspire others.
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