ARCO has set itself the goal of promoting, making visible and further developing encounters and reflections on French and Austrian culture in the focus of contemporary music and composition. This is done on the one hand through a study and coaching format along selected compositions and concepts, and on the other hand through concerts, discussion forums, productions and social media. In this way, it continues a tradition of Franco-Austrian elective affinity as it was impressively lived by Stefan Zweig, Peter Handke, Romain Rolland, Robert Musil and many others.
Two outstanding institutions are linked by the Academy: the GMEM in Marseille in the immediate vicinity of the famous Festival in Aix-en-Provence and the Mozarteum University in close proximity to the Salzburg Festival. The Academy will take place alternately in Marseille and France. A cooperation with the two major festivals will be gradually established since 2019. Particularly talented, committed and advanced students and postgraduates form the target group, topics such as cultural responsibility, innovation, artistic freedom, individual and society, Europe 4.0, offer essential challenges. The ARCO project is also supported by SACEM (Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers of Music) and by Art Mentor Foundation Lucerne and other sponsors.
Every year, around 50 composers, teachers, instrumentalists, singers and conducting students from all over the world work together with the renowned French ensembles Les Métaboles, Ensemble Multilatérale and the Tana Quartet on works composed especially for this occasion and perform them immediately.