Parents Forum of European Music Schools (PFEM)

On the occasion of the foundation of the parents forum (PFEM) on 22nd May 2009 in the Anton-Bruckner-Private University in Linz/Austria as part of the xth European Youth Musical Festival of the European Musical School-Union (EMU) in Upper Austria the following Linzer Declaration was passed by the representatives of the national Parents Organisation.

Declaration from Linz

The Parents Forum of European Music Schools addresses this declaration to all relevant national and European political parliaments, institutions and individuals as well as to all Parents Organisations of Music Schools to encourage continuous commitment:

• to secure the social importance of Music Schools
• to expand the structure of Music Schools to a regional wide coverage
• to retain affordable Music School fees
• to ensure a broad and high quality Music School offering
• to also ensure a comprehensive funding and support for Music Schools.

The increasing globalisation of all areas of social life also requires us all to stand up for the goals and contents of the work of Music Schools across Europe. As a place of musical education, Music Schools enable children and young people to spend their free time sensibly and active. Our aim is to preserve and expand all the various forms of musical education. In order to do this we need the commitment and support on both national and European level. With the dismissal of this declaration the participants of the Parents Forum are obliged to pursue these goals, to provide transnational support to each other and to seek a hearing with the relevant authorities and politicians. The contents and the goals of the Toblacher Declaration (2001) serve the PFEM as a mission to act and collaboration with the European Music School-Union (EMU) is intended.

Linz, May,  22^nd 2009