Greece is moving to reshape arts studies through a bill now under debate in parliament that would create a Higher School of Performing Arts within the country’s higher education system. If approved, the institution would establish a formal university-level track for theater, dance and music, addressing a long-standing gap in the country’s arts studies landscape.
The Greek government presents the measure as a major reform that would finally bring structure, academic recognition and consistency to a fragmented field. Opposition parties, however, argue that the initiative raises serious questions about access, planning, infrastructure and whether it can truly meet the needs of Greece’s artistic community.
Greece frames bill as a long overdue reform
Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki has described the proposal as a historic reform, arguing that it would create a clear academic framework for disciplines that have lacked a unified university pathway in Greece for decades.
According to the Education Ministry, the new school would operate as a fully self-governed higher education institution integrated into the national university system. It would offer undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programs, while also supporting research and applying standardized quality controls.
Officials say the legislation is meant to resolve long-standing problems in artistic education, including fragmented regulation, unclear degree classifications and weak links between arts training, higher education and public sector employment.
The new school would not base admission on Greece’s nationwide university entrance exams, known as the Panhellenic exams. Instead, applicants would undergo specialized assessments, including in-person auditions or other performance-based evaluations, along with written and oral components.
Opposition agrees but warns of gaps in arts studies access and implementation
Although political parties broadly agree that arts education reform is necessary, opposition lawmakers have raised differing concerns about the bill’s structure and likely impact.
PASOK rapporteur Stefanos Parastatidis said the establishment of a performing arts school has been a demand of the artistic community for more than 40 years. At the same time, he stressed that such an initiative requires broad political consensus, technical expertise, clear planning and adequate resources to succeed.
Without those conditions, he warned, the project could fail to add meaningful value to Greece’s arts education system. He also criticized the lack of continuity in education policy, pointing out that three different education ministers have served in recent years, each pursuing a different approach despite all belonging to the ruling New Democracy party.
SYRIZA lawmaker Katerina Notopoulou focused on capacity, arguing that the proposed institution would admit only a limited number of students to state-run programs. She questioned what options would remain for those left out, suggesting that many could be pushed toward private colleges. In her view, the bill does not fully address the broader demand for free public arts education.