PULSE-ART project

What is PULSE-ART?

 

PULSE-ART (Promoting Understanding and Lifelong learning Successful Education through the Arts and Culture) is a European project that aims to identify gaps and barriers that hinder the integration of art in educational systems. This initiative understands art as a tool that allows for research and promotes cultural awareness, using innovative methods in collaboration with cultural and creative industries (CCI), and giving rise to partnerships with educational systems.

PULSE-ART, a European project that seeks to transform education through art to promote cultural awareness and expression.

Both the impact of the integration of art into education and the development of related skills will be investigated through seven case studies in seven countries. In each of them, different artistic formats will be applied to a specific context where creative diversity is the driving force behind inclusive and dynamic educational spaces that celebrate multiculturalism.

The case studies will range from scientific illustration in Spain to traditional music in Morocco, dance in Latvia, the video games in France, the game jams in Malta, visual ats and technology in Greece, and performing arts in the Netherlands.

The project will aim to demonstrate over its three-year run how the use of art in education can become a driving force for the cultural development of communities across Europe by fostering the skills of Cultural Awareness and Expression (CAE).

 

What are the aims of PULSE-ART?

 

At the heart of this initiative is the concept of integrating art, culture and heritage institutions into the educational framework, including museums, galleries, cultural centres and CCIs in general.

This integration aims to create the following reference materials to be tested and applied across the seven case studies in the seven participating countries (Spain, France, Malta, Latvia, Greece, the Netherlands and Morocco):

• A Competent Framework
• A Professional Development Programme
• An Arts in Education Observatory to foster Cultural Awareness and Expression (CAE)
• A Self-Reflection Toolkit, to be tested in the case studies across different artistic expressions
• Collaboration hubs will be created between educational institutions, covering all levels of education, and cultural organisations to build bridges, using innovative and tailored methods in line with the Horizon Europe guidelines
• The inclusion of CCIs in educational systems will be advocated for, leveraging art forms as creative media for cultural learning
• Evaluation Reports will be produced on the results and impacts obtained

 

The creation of these materials, under a lifelong learning perspective, marks one of the main objectives of PULSE-ART: to promote understanding and lifelong learning of arts and culture in education. For this reason, work will also be done on the co-creation of National Action Plans, Policy Reports and Recommendations for policy makers on strengthening arts in education and increasing CAE.

 

What are we going to do at the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC)?

 

The MNCN-CSIC, through the Department of Communication and Scientific Culture, will participate in the PULSE-ART project by leading the Spanish case study with scientific illustration as an artistic tool, in addition to collaborating in various project development tasks with the rest of the participating institutions.

Scientific illustration and drawing contribute to comprehensive scientific education by visually communicating scientific knowledge in a way that transcends language barriers and cultural differences. By artistically depicting diverse ecosystems, species and scientific concepts, these illustrations serve as a universal language, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the natural and scientific world across cultures, and a reflection on our own environment. Artists can enhance inclusion and convey the interconnectedness of science and culture, promoting a more holistic approach to education and communication.

 

What is CAE (Cultural Awareness and Expression)?

 

The project aims to demonstrate how the use of art in education can become a driving force for cultural development in communities across Europe.

CAE is one of the 8 key competences selected by the European Commission.

It is about recognising and valuing the rich diversity of cultures around us, celebrating heritage, creativity and finding ways to express and share our unique identities and stories, fostering understanding, respect and unity in an inclusive and connected world.

In this vein/In line with this, the PULSE-ART project promotes the inclusion of all children and young people, with the aim of increasing democracy and civic engagement in Europe. Its fundamental pillars are cooperation at European, national and local level, capacity building, co-creation and knowledge sharing.

 

What are we working on?

 

Co-creation and local action sessions of the MOSAIC HUB project:

Mosaic Hub Barcelona - On July 16, 2025, the second of these collaborative projects took place with civil society, educational institutions, researchers, artists, and cultural and creative industries to share and create experiences, identify barriers, and propose transformations.

Mosaic Hub Madrid - The first launch of these meetings took place at the MNCN on May 7, 2025. More than 20 cultural, educational, and scientific organizations gathered for this day of dialogue and reflection. We discussed gaps and opportunities to strengthen the role of art in education and in the development of the Basque Country.

Kick of Meeting: On 27-28 November 2024, at the Casa Golferichs Civic Centre (Barcelona), a large group of cultural managers, artists, researchers, educators and other key actors met in a collaborative environment designed to participate in dynamic workshops and explore innovative ecosystems, methodologies and practices to integrate art into education within the framework of the PULSE-ART project.

 

 

Please see the PULSE-ART project website for more information: https://pulseartproject.eu/pulse-art/

and stay up to date on the project's social networks:

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PULSE-ARTproject 

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This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement no. 101178988.