'Music now! Musica Nostra! 'The conference in Mafra shows the power of music for the establishment of a united, inclusive and sustainable Europe

On April 30, 2025, the Center Européen de Musique (CEM) and Europe Nostra now organized the music! Musica Nostra! 'Conference in the UNESCO-listed Mafra National Palace in Portugal, which welcomes around 300 participants in person and online. The conference was organized as part of the EU-financed pilot project European Heritage Hub and showed the power of music to promote unity and peace and to support the social, green and digital transition in Europe and beyond.

Around 30 music and cultural heritage experts, representatives of European, national and local institutions as well as civil society emphasized the key role and multiple advantages of music for society – from education over democracy, health on innovation and sustainability – and are committed to adequate funds for music, inheritance and culture at a general level.

The 'music now! Musica Nostra! 'The conference took place under the high patronage of the President of the Portuguese Republic. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousaand the president of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron. The conference was organized in cooperation with the municipality of Mafra, the Portuguese Ministry of Culture, Centro Nacional de Cultura, as coordinator of the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Lisbon, Divino Sospiro and Terrafoundation. It ended with a special concert by Divino Sospiro, a Baroque chamber orchestra based in Portugal, and Shani DilukaA Monegasem born pianist of the Srilankische descent.

Conference topics and important snack bars

In four thematic panels, the conference examined music as a DNA of European cultural identity and as a bridge between material and intangible legacy. It also discussed the challenges of digital transition and the AI; And emphasized the need for an ambitious European initiative and adequate financing for music – as an essential part of the intangible heritage in Europe.

During the conference, music and cultural heritage experts, representatives of the European, national and local institutions as well as civil society highlighted the key role and importance of music. The main discussions of the discussions include:

• Music is a real reflection of both the material and the intangible heritage of Europe, which meets historical places with a soul;
• Music is a force for democracy and peace, it heals what violence destroys;
• Music is a universal language and as such in the core of European unity;
• Music offers alternative instruments for health strategies and therapies.
• Music is of fundamental importance for education, from early childhood to lifelong learning and helps to promote a feeling of European citizenship.
• Music supports environmental awareness and stimulates sustainable practices. And
• Music inspires artistic and technological creativity and innovation.

Key news

The President of Center Européen de Musique (Cem), Jorge Chaminéexplained: “Music is not a luxury, but a necessity. Music is free and generous across all borders. Today we celebrate the profound recognition of the human mind and set music in the core of European unity. “”

The Hub project manager and general secretary of Europa Nostra, Sneška Quaedvlieg-MihailovićIt emphasized that in such turbulent times the upcoming cultural compass, a strategic framework for EU cultural policy, which is currently being put together with the stakeholders, is a unique opportunity to recognize the holistic role of music in order to bring Europeans together and to place them centrally in related EU guidelines. “Let us raise the game and start a real alliance for music as a fundamental part and pillar of Europe's culture and identity“, She said.

MEP Hélder Sousa Silva (EPP, Portugal) campaigned for increased financing of the culture in the new Multiazral Financial Framework (MFF), which currently only corresponds to 0.2% of the entire EU budget with the Creative Europe program. Hélder Sousa Silva, former mayor of Mafra, emphasized the example of the city of Mafra, which dedicated about 10% of his budget for investments in culture and education and led to concrete improvements to the city's quality of life. “EU member states and municipalities throughout Europe should provide culture, education and youth more funds and be held accountable“, He argued.

Hugo Moreira LuísMayor of Mafra now welcomed the organization of the music! Musica Nostra! 'Conference in the city. “Mafra is music and today Mafra is also Europe and unity“, The mayor explained. The historical relationship between the city of Mafra and the music comes from the construction of the royal building of Mafra. The Basilica of Mafra contains the world's largest set of the carillons from the 18th century (Carillons, which were recorded in the list of 7 -endangered cultures in Europe. Was awarded a European Heritage Award / Europa Nostra Award in 2012.

Look ahead

The European Heritage Hub, a pilot project common by the European Union, aims to promote a more integrated and participatory approach for the heir-sowohl materially as well as intangible-on the entire continent. With the support of partners, including Europe Nostra and Cem as well as institutions such as the European Commission, the Hub offers a framework for cooperation between governments, cities, cultural organizations and citizens. The results of the music now! Musica Nostra! 'The conference is integrated into guidelines and recommendations that are to be published in 2025.

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