The Young European Sculpture (YES) project represents an ambitious networking initiative that connects higher education institutions specializing in sculpture across Europe. Aimed at advancing the professionalization of students and laying the groundwork for a shared curriculum in European higher education, YES fosters collaboration between four distinguished partners: TALM Higher School of Art and Design (France, project coordinator), Accademia di Belle Arti di Carrara (Italy), Art Academy of Latvia (Latvia), and the Faculdade de Belas Artes – Universidade do Porto(Portugal). This collaboration is further supported by the Agence Erasmus+ France / Éducation Formation.
The core objective of YES is to promote the exchange of pedagogical practices and confront diverse theoretical and technical approaches within the field of sculpture. By fostering these innovative synergies, the project seeks to generate cooperation on a European scale.
Over the course of three years, from 2023 to 2024, three masterclasses will take place in France, Latvia, and Portugal. These sessions will bring together approximately 40 students, jointly selected by the partner institutions, to tackle the challenges of developing a unified curriculum in sculpture. Focusing on contemporary sculpture’s relationship with materials, space, society, and social practices, these masterclasses will provide a rich platform for exploring the medium’s evolving role in Europe.
The project will culminate in 2025 with an exhibition featuring the work of YES alumni, alongside a publication documenting the exchanges and collaborations. YES is funded for three years by the Erasmus+ program (2022-2025), under the key action 2 – Cooperation Partnership in Higher Education.