Brand New European-Arab Youth Music Centre to be Launched 25-Aug-2010

Jeunnesses Musicales International has signed a tri-lateral agreement with the Cultural Movement EPILOGI of Limassol and the Arab Academy of Music (League of Arab States) for the establishment of a Euro-Arab Youth Music Centre in Limassol, Cyprus.

Blasko Smilevski, Secretary General of Jeunesses Musicales International (JMI) said “This exciting new venture arises out of the partners joint interest to stimulate dialogue and mutual understanding among the youth of the European and Arab countries and to enhance cooperation among youth and music organizations.”

The first of its kind, the new Euro-Arab Youth Music Centre aims to enable an increased number of youth of the European and Arab countries to participate and create educational and social music programs.

“We believe that access to music is a fundamental human right and a factor contributing to the sustainable development of young people and our communities. Every project the centre undertakes will be rooted in building cooperation, solidarity, respect and understanding among youth, and aim to contribute to the active citizenship and social integration of youth.” JMI Programs Officer, Kate Declerck

Further Information:

The Arab Academy of Music (AAM) is a specialized body of the League of Arab States (LAS) that concerns itself with the various aspects of music throughout the Arab World.  The AAM’s primary mission is to work on developing and promoting music education in the Arab World, encouraging the exchange of music cultures, collecting and preserving the legacy of Arab music, and fostering and promoting Arab instrumental and vocal production.

The Cultural Movement EPILOGI is a non-profit organization, founded in November 1992 as a direct response to the need for cultural life in the town of Limassol. It is now the largest cultural NGO in Cyprus with over 250 members mostly under the age of 30, actively involved in its programs.

Jeunesses Musicales International (JMI) is the largest youth music NGO in the world, created in Brussels, Belgium in 1945 with the mission to "enable young people to develop through music across all boundaries".  With member organizations currently in 45 countries and contact organizations in another 35, JMI is a global network providing opportunities for young people to engage with music.

The JMI network reaches over 5 million young people aged 13-30 per year through some 36,000 activities, which embrace all styles of music, and coordinates cross-border exchange opportunities on the international level.