Quirinal Treaty: A Major Opportunity for Italian Art Academies

The Quirinal Treaty, signed on November 26 between Italy and France, formalizes enhanced cooperation across multiple sectors, including education, culture, and research. Strongly advocated by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and French President Emmanuel Macron, the treaty is seen as a historic milestone in bilateral relations, complementing the 2019 Aachen Treaty between France and Germany. While the treaty does not explicitly mention artistic, musical, and dance training (AFAM), it emphasizes closer ties between higher education systems and the establishment of joint vocational excellence centers. The National Conference of Presidents of State Academies, led by Fabio Moretti (president of the Academy of Fine Arts of Venice and of the conference), views this as a potential opportunity for Italian academies to internationalize, particularly with France and Francophone Africa. The conference urges the Ministry of University and Research to initiate projects under the treaty that involve AFAM institutions, fostering exchanges of professors and students. Moretti expresses readiness to contribute expertise and relationships to this effort.