RESEO at 30
Three decades after its founding, RESEO stands in a cultural landscape profoundly different from the one in which it began: education departments are now embedded in most cultural institutions, and the social role of the arts is increasingly recognised. So what comes next?
Who holds the power?
Opera, music and dance are associated with “excellence”, but what happens when quality is no longer measured solely by final outcome, but by process? The RESEO Conference 2026 will dive deep into notions of power, and the place of co-creation and collective authorship in art forms rooted in tradition.
Under what conditions do we create?
While education and participation are welcomed in theory, production resources are rarely adapted accordingly. In periods of austerity, cuts fall first and most visibly on education and participation. In an era of political polarisation, culture is subject to ideological scrutiny and shifting policy priorities. If cultural rights are fundamental to democratic life, how do we respond when access narrows and when artistic freedom is pressured or politicised?
What do we owe future generations?
The social role of the arts is increasingly recognised: art reflects society while acting as a catalyst for its transformation. RESEO members have long worked to diversify audiences and broaden access to opera, music and dance. Today, many are engaging with wider societal challenges, from the integration of migrants and refugees to mental and physical wellbeing, and the search for responses to the climate crisis. During the conference, we will ask what sustainability means for our sector – environmentally, socially and institutionally – culminating in the drafting of our network sustainability manifesto.
What future do we want?
This is a time to clarify our values, articulate our commitments and examine the power structures that shape our work. Hosted in partnership with La Monnaie / De Munt, the RESEO Conference 2026 will be an occasion to celebrate our achievements, reflect on our journey and write our next chapter together!
Full programme (Draft version)
Financial assistance
The following financial assistance programmes are available:
- The Europe and Beyond programme offers mobility grants and registration fee waivers to organisations and professionals based in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.
- The Student Fellowship programme offers students aged under 30 and based in Belgium free access to one day of conference activities. To apply, please email your CV and a short motivation paragraph to vania@reseo.org.
Registration
Deadline for registration: 5 October 2025
Early bird offer (reserved for members) ends 31 July 2026.
In partnership with
