Violinist Emi Ohi Resnick and double bassist Valentina Scheldhofen Ciardelli showcase their instruments at the recent “Air Transport of Musical Instruments: Rules, Risks and Best Practices for a Culture‑Driven Economy” meeting hosted by members of the European Parliament in Brussels.
In Wednesday’s (2/25) Strad (U.K.), a staff-written article reports, “On Monday 23 February, members of the European Parliament hosted a dedicated event in Brussels addressing the air transport of professional musical instruments, marking a decisive step toward potential European-level regulatory clarity for cultural workers. Entitled ‘Air Transport of Musical Instruments: Rules, Risks and Best Practices for a Culture‑Driven Economy,’ the focus of the discussion was the call to recognize professional musical instruments not as standard luggage, but as essential working tools. The meeting brought together over 150 stakeholders from the music and air transport sectors, as well as MEPs and representatives of the European Commission, to confront the long-standing inconsistencies musicians face when travelling with instruments, and to begin shaping a shared European framework to safeguard artists’ rights and mobility. Numerous recent events have ignited renewed pressure for clearer, fairer air‑travel rules for musicians across Europe…. The debate highlighted the critical issues around the topic, emphasizing the need to balance the needs of musicians with airport safety and operational efficiency criteria…. Further technical developments and follow-up discussions are expected in the coming months.”
