The Working Group Youth of the European Music Council held a highly successful European Youth Forum on Music entitled Access! in Turin, Italy from 15th-17th October 2010. The more than sixty participants from all corners of Europe, mostly in their twenties, agreed that this was an invaluable opportunity to network and learn from one another. They shared their concerns and ideas for the future of the European music sector in a series of interactive workshops and worked together towards producing a European Agenda for Youth and Music. The forum was opened by two inspiring young keynote speakers: cellist and pioneer of contemporary music Peter Gregson (23, from the United Kingdom) and Zuhal Sultan music activist and founder of the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq (19, from Iraq). Next up was an introduction to European youth policy and music given by Antoine Mertzeisen from the European Youth Forum and Kate Declerck from Jeunesses Musicales International. The first day was rounded off by a concert presented by hosts Feniarco, the Italian Choral Association, at the Conservatoire Giuseppe Verdi. This featured local young musicians as well as guest Jennifer Port, harpist and singer from Live Music Now Scotland. Another musical highlight was provided by the local youth choir Coro G in a performance during the guided city tour they gave participants on Saturday. A wide range of workshops were offered to participants on the second day covering themes such as cultural policy, music education, arts management, branding and digital strategies, and music and social change. Practical examples were given and developed with the musical results of some of the workshops presented that evening at the European Music Cafe. This was a chance for all participants and speakers to get to know each other and further discuss issues raised in the forum, whilst enjoying a varied musical programme and the beautiful setting of a palazzo! The last morning was dedicated to the European Agenda for Youth and Music with participants presenting the results of the workshops and addressing the issues which are important for young people involved in music today in further small group discussions. These included employment, training, funding, access to and sharing of information, and music as a social tool. The results were collated and will form the core of the European Agenda for Youth and Music which will be finalised in the coming months. This document will be launched in Brussels and disseminated widely to ensure that policy makers, institutions and individuals take into account the needs of the young people who will be shaping the future of the European cultural sphere. A large number of participants stayed to attend an open Working Group Youth meeting on the Sunday afternoon. Here, priorities for the coming years were discussed and a new committee elected, consisting of: Claire Goddard (GB/DE) – Chair Karolien Dons (BE/NL) – Vice Chair Floriane Cottet (CH/AT) Maiju Kopra (FI) Katharine Lane (GB) Eline de Langhe (BE) Arianna Stornello (IT) For more information please visit www.emc-imc.org/working-group-youth/access or contact the Working Group Youth on wgy@emc-imc.org. Address: European Music Council, Weberstr. 59a, 53113 Bonn, Germany. Tel: +49 228 96 69 96-64.