About ECArTE

	Creating stronger European links in the Arts Therapies through the international exchange of staff and students
	Promoting research into methods of Arts Therapies practice within Europe
	Working towards opportunities for international study in Arts Therapies training programmes
	Promoting recognition of qualifications in the Arts Therapies at a European level
	Supporting the development of appropriate, academically recognized, nationally validated Higher Education courses for the Arts Therapies.
	Offering opportunities for professional communication at its international conferences.

European Network
 

ECArTE is working towards establishing mutual recognition and compatibility in educational and vocational training for Arts Therapists within the European Community. The Consortium encourages the use of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) as a vehicle for developing and maintaining shared standards.
ECArTE was established with the support of ERASMUS.

Basic criteria for training as an Arts Therapist

The General Assembly of ECArTE has drawn up the following broad and minimum criteria for initial training as an Arts Therapist:
The university training should be postgraduate or consist of a minimum of four years’ study (1250 or more study hours per year). At least one year should focus exclusively on specialisation in the Arts Therapies, i.e. art therapy, dance-movement therapy, dramatherapy or music therapy.
Training should include:

	the development of artistic skills
	the study of Arts Therapies theories
	the study of related scientific studies
	supervised professional practice
	therapeutic experiential work: Training should by provided trough specialised arts therapy courses and lead to a specific award either in Art Therapy, Dance-movement Therapy, Dramatherapy or Music Therapy.

The benefits of ECArTE Membership

ECArTE is a means of promoting and developing, at an international level, the standard and quality of Arts Therapy education offered by member institutions. It also provides member institutions with a range of benefits:

	Enhanced opportunities for grants from the EC bureaux (such as Erasmus/Socrates) for curriculum development, staff and student exchange.
	Sharing experience of course and specialist curriculum knowledge within member institutions
	The opportunity to become part of a network for developing Arts Therapies education in Europe.
	Attendance at regular General Assembly meetings within Europe.
	Reduced rates when attending ECArTE events.
	An established network for research purposes.
	Use of the ECArTE logo and recognition in all publicity and course marketing.

ECArTE Membership

The Consortium was established in 1991 with assistance from ERASMUS.  Accordingly, membership is linked to recognition by the European Union of Institutions of Higher Education. 

Currently the Consortium has three categories of membership.

Membership Fees

The Annual Membership Fee will be reviewed each year at the General Assembly Meeting and will be determined by the Executive. The same membership fee will be applicable to all three categories of membership.  The Annual Membership Fee covers a full calendar year (January to December) and must be paid by 1st June of any one year. The Membership Fee for the current year (2006) is 700 Euro.

Once an institution’s membership has been ratified by the Consortium, costs for one person incurred during General Assembly meetings (including hotel accommodation and meals) will be included in the Annual Membership Fee. Travel costs will be reimbursed by the Consortium for Member Representatives attending a General Assembly.

Notes regarding an application

All applications should be made on an ECArTE Application Form for Membership. These are available from Members of the Executive Board.

All applicants are asked to submit documentation regarding validation of courses and educational and professional recognition of awards with their application.

All applicatants are asked to seek and include, wherever possible, endorsement of their application from an existing ECArTE Member Institution.

Applicants for Partner Membership must be endorsed by the partner/s who are existing Full Members of the Consortium.

Decisions regarding membership applications will normally be taken during a General Assembly of the Consortium and the applicant will be invited to send a representative to present their application at that meeting.

Members of the Executive Board 2005

Hon. President  Line Kossolapow, University of Munster, Germany

Chair                Christine Lapoujade, University Rene Descartes, Paris, France

Vice-Chair         Sarah Scoble, University of Plymouth, Exeter, United Kingdom

Co-ordinator      Albrecht Lampe, University of Applied Sciences, Ottersberg, Germany

Treasurer          Egbert Hulshof, HAN University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

European Arts Therapies Conferences - International participation, open to all

1sh	1990	University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom - “Arts Therapies Education – Our European Future”
2nd	1992	University of Zuyd, Sittard, Netherland - “Our professional identity”
3rd	1994	University of Ferrara, Italy - “Arts Therapies in Europe”
4th	1997	University of London, United Kingdom - “Communication in the Arts Therapies”
5th	1999	University of Munster, Germany - “Arts Therapies 2000 . Education – Research – Policy – Practice”
6th	2001	University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg - “Exposing difference in Europe”
7th	2003	University Complutense of Madrid, Spain - “Arts Therapy : Recognized discipline or soul-graffiti ? Approaches, applications, evaluations”
8th	2005	University of Crete, Rethymno, Greece - “Arts Therapies : Grounding the Vision to advance Theory and Practice” 14th-17th September, Rethymno, Crete
9th	2007	Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia - "Arts in Arts Therapies: new challenges, new horizons" 19th – 22nd September 2007