At the end of the 1990s, the Cologne University of Music and Dance signed an agreement with the city of Montepulciano that gave it the opportunity to use a historic palazzo in the heart of the Tuscan town in exchange for restoring the building. Thanks to extensive sponsorship funds, Palazzo Ricci was officially opened as the European Academy of Arts on June 17, 2001.

 

One of the academy's key objectives from the start was to establish international master classes. In this field, the European Academy of Arts, with its high occupancy rate, is now one of the most renowned institutions of its kind in Europe.

Thanks to the selfless commitment of the lecturers—renowned artists from universities in North Rhine-Westphalia and around the world—a course program that meets the highest standards can be offered at very favorable conditions to participants traveling from all over Europe, even with a small budget. This results in remarkable multiplier effects in the interests of the state.

 

In addition to master classes, the academy is also increasingly being used for themed projects by national and international universities, rehearsal weeks for choirs and orchestras, as well as scholarship stays and conferences. The academy also works closely with local and regional Italian partners such as the renowned Italian art and music festival Cantiere Internazionale d'Arte and cooperates with other German cultural and scientific institutions in Italy.

Of particular importance is the collaboration with the College for Music and Art Montepulciano in North Rhine-Westphalia, which, with its various interdisciplinary projects and courses, is an important partner for the training of young artists.

In 2017, the renovation of the attic space provided the urgently needed expansion of the premises, which had become necessary due to the steady growth in groups and workshops. This not only better met the needs of visual artists, but also offered all creative professionals the opportunity to use seminar rooms equipped with modern equipment as a venue for their own projects.

 

The Academy is a pioneer in international cultural work in North Rhine-Westphalia and bilateral cooperation between Germany and Italy, two countries with a strong classical music tradition.

It is the only German cultural institute in Italy that focuses primarily on music. The Academy's guiding principle is to facilitate encounters between highly talented young artists from all over Europe. Through its extensive activities in the field of music and the performing arts, the European Academy exemplifies the promotion of the highest artistic quality, the coming together of people in Europe, and the advancement of young people through joint activities.