How are artificial intelligence and digital technologies changing the way we create, organise and experience culture and live music? What opportunities do they offer cultural professionals, and what questions should we ask before making them part of our work?

Four European cultural networks have joined forces to explore these questions through Digital Shifts, a new webinar series combining practical guidance, critical reflection and exchange across the sector. The partners are Europe Jazz Network (EJN), the network of festivals, venues and organisations specialised in jazz and creative music; the European Festivals Association (EFA), which connects arts festivals across disciplines; Live DMA, the European network for live music associations; and YOUROPE, the biggest European festival association for popular music festivals.

The first three webinars, taking place in November and December 2026, will explore the human dimension of artistic creation, the responsible use of AI agents, and the changes AI assistants bring to everyday working habits. Together, they will offer space to consider how cultural organisations can make informed choices about digital tools while keeping artistic values and human judgement at the centre of their work.

The series is open to anyone interested in these topics. Each session will include opportunities to ask questions and exchange ideas with speakers and fellow participants. Further webinars will follow in 2027, with a detailed calendar to be published later on.

Register for one or more of the first webinars at this link: https://forms.gle/qwFafBxj5zvRXuCw9

The link for each selected session will be sent to you in advance.

Programme of the first three webinars:

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#1- AI: Artistic Intelligence (curated by EFA)

When: Tuesday, 3 November 2026, 10.00 – 12.00 CET

In an age defined by algorithms and acceleration, disruption and digitised experiences, synthetic personalities and simulations, it is both timely and necessary to pause and reflect on what it means to be human.

Main speaker: Sir Jonathan Mills

Jonathan Mills AC is a prominent Australian-born composer and festival director. He composed several award-winning operas and works for chamber ensemble and orchestra. He has been director of various music and multi-arts festivals in Australia and also in the UK, where he was the director of the Edinburgh International Festival between 2007 and 2014. Jonathan is visiting Professor at the University of Edinburgh and Vice Chancellor’s (Professorial) Fellow at the University of Melbourne. His work has been recognised by awards from the governments of Australia, Britain, France, Poland and South Korea. 

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#2: Agentic AI for Music Professionals: Tools, Ethics and Governance (curated by EJN)

When: Thursday, 12 November 2026, 15.00 - 16.00 CET

How can music and cultural organisations use AI agents effectively and responsibly? This webinar explores examples of AI agents for planning, project management, communication and research. Drawing on European legislation and international recommendations on AI, it discusses ethics, data protection and human oversight, offering concrete steps for developing an AI governance policy for your cultural organisations.

Main speaker: Emanuele Frontoni, University of Macerata

Emanuele Frontoni is full Professor of Computer Science at the University of Macerata and co-director of the Vision, Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Lab (VRAI). He is affiliated with the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Genoa and serves as Scientific Director of NemoLab at Niguarda Hospital in Milan. An expert in artificial intelligence, computer vision, human behaviour analysis and smart environments, he has authored over 300 scientific publications.

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#3: Changing Working Habits (curated by Live DMA)

When: Tuesday, 15 December 2026, 10.00 – 12.00 CET

What tasks do we want to give to AI assistants? Why and how? What change in terms of working habits and skills update does it require? After exploring the ethical challenges of AI, this session gets practical. Based on the everyday work of music professionals, participants will explore how to use AI assistants effectively, and where their limits lie. More importantly, we will look at what AI changes beyond the tools themselves: our workflows, working habits and the skills we need to develop to use them critically and purposefully. The session will be facilitated by Yvan Boudillet.

Main speaker: Yvan Boudillet, Music Tech Europe

Yvan Boudillet founded Music Innovation Consulting and co-founded Music Tech Europe, where he serves as Secretary General. He helps music organisations navigate innovation, focusing on AI, live music and European cultural policy. He authored a 2021 European Commission report on music distribution and contributed to the IMEMS mapping of AI solutions for the Live Music Sector. A regular international speaker, he previously held senior digital strategy roles at Warner Music and EMI Music.
 

Here is again the link to the webinars sign-up form: https://forms.gle/qwFafBxj5zvRXuCw9