International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation

What International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation does

The International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation (IYMF) is a Belgian-registered non-profit association founded in 1991 by violinist Yehudi Menuhin in Brussels, headquartered at Avenue Herrmann-Debroux 42, 1160 Auderghem. The foundation uses arts-based programming to advance social inclusion, intercultural dialogue, and creative education, primarily through its flagship MUS-E® Programme — a methodology grounded in Zoltan Kodály's music education concept that Yehudi Menuhin expanded to encompass all creative arts (singing, dance, music, movement, drama, visual and multimedia arts). MUS-E deploys professional artists directly into primary schools across 13 European countries, reaching 499 schools, 778 artists, 4,497 teachers, and 61,267 children in school year 2024/2025. The foundation also operates the INSIDE Programme (social inclusion through artistic practice with refugees, newcomers, at-risk youth, and nursing home residents), the Homelands co-creation project for refugee and newcomer artists in Belgian cities, the Concert with You virtual stage platform, and EU-funded projects including Green Tales and Ode2Joy under Erasmus+ and Creative Europe.

The foundation's core technology is its proprietary MUS-E® methodology (registered trademark, developed over 30+ years) and the supporting training toolkits, guidelines, and International MUS-E Council governance framework that standardize implementation across national associations. Delivery is coordinated through an ecosystem of 13 country-level MUS-E associations and a network of 1,000+ Ambassador Artists across all artistic disciplines.

IYMF operates as a non-profit with no publicly disclosed pricing or revenue figures. Revenue is generated through donations processed via the King Baudouin Foundation (eligible for 45% Belgian tax deduction on gifts of at least €40), EU project grants (DG EAC, Erasmus+, Creative Europe), event sponsorships (annual gala concerts with partners such as the Spanish Embassy, Royal Library of Belgium, TreeTop, ENGIE, and the National Bank of Belgium), and corporate partnerships. The foundation is led by Executive Vice-President Marianne Poncelet (co-founder) with a small core team of approximately 20 staff. Key strategic partnerships include UNESCO (since 1993), the Lifelong Learning Platform, Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles, Red Cross and Fedasil (Belgium), and national MUS-E associations.

Name

International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation

Legal name

International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation

Website

https://menuhin-foundation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation is a Brussels-based non-profit founded in 1991 that delivers arts-based education and social inclusion programmes, primarily through the MUS-E® methodology deploying professional artists into primary schools across 13 European countries, reaching over 61,000 children annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Education and Social Inclusion Services

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural, Identity & Inclusion Programs (EDALAHAF), Cultural Immersion Add-Ons (Culture + Language) (EDAIAEAL)

Keywords

• Arts education programs
• Creative learning initiatives
• Community arts workshops
• Social inclusion projects
• Intercultural arts programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The foundation accepts donations through the King Baudouin Foundation, with donations of at least 40 euros eligible for a 45% tax reduction in Belgium. This forms a primary revenue stream for supporting ongoing programs and artist activities.
2. EU Project Funding: The foundation receives European Union funding for socio-cultural and educational initiatives. Projects such as Green Tales and Ode2Joy are EU-supported. The foundation participates in Erasmus+ programs and other EU educational frameworks.
3. Event Sponsorships and Partnerships: Revenue is generated through sponsored events such as annual gala concerts, with support from corporate sponsors (e.g., TreeTop) and institutional partners (e.g., Spanish Embassy, Europalia).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation designs and delivers arts-based education, social-inclusion, and intercultural programs through professional artists working in schools and community settings. Its core services include the MUS-E® Programme, INSIDE initiatives, refugee-artist co-creation through Homelands, selected EU-funded projects, and the Concert with You virtual performance platform.

Product overview

The International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation operates a portfolio of interconnected cultural and educational programmes united by the mission of using arts to transform society and promote social inclusion. The core offerings include the MUS-E® Programme (arts education in European primary schools reaching 61,000+ children), the INSIDE Programme (social inclusion through artistic practice), the Homelands project (refugee artist co-creation), and the Concert with You virtual stage platform. The Foundation also manages EU-funded projects (Green Tales, Ode2Joy) and maintains an Ambassador Artists Network of over 1,000 artists. Together, these programmes form a comprehensive ecosystem for arts-based education and social inclusion across 13 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MUS-E: Arts education programme bringing professional artists into primary schools across Europe to foster creativity, social inclusion, and intercultural dialogue among children, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds. Based on Zoltan Kodaly's music education concept, broadened by Yehudi Menuhin to include all creative arts spanning all cultures.

Products and services

• MUS-E® Programme An arts-education programme that places professional artists in European primary schools to work with children from multicultural and disadvantaged backgrounds through singing, dance, music, movement, drama, and visual arts.
• INSIDE Programme An artistic social-inclusion programme combining dance, percussion, theatre, graffiti, singing, and poetry to connect local artists with newcomers through activities delivered in schools, reception centers, and community settings.
• Homelands, places of belonging A Belgian community co-creation project in which newcomer and refugee artists work with socio-cultural partners and local communities on artistic projects centered on belonging.
• Concert with You A virtual stage through which musicians and artists share music and arts performances with online audiences, with viewers able to support the artists through donations.
• Green Tales An EU-funded project that combines arts education with environmental themes through creative workshops about nature and sustainability for children and teachers across Europe.
• Ode2Joy An Erasmus+ project in which European partners promote creative and inclusive education through arts-based learning methodologies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 61,267 children reached per year through MUS-E programme (school year 2024/2025)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• Spanish Embassy in BelgiummajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 December 2025Collaboration for the Annual Gala Concert 'Canciones de Sefarad' held at the Royal Library of Belgium within the framework of Europalia Spain, celebrating Sephardic musical heritage.
• Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles (TNWB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with TNWB for the Inside Création project, bringing together professional artists and secondary school students in a collective creative process exploring themes of identity, communities, and social realities. The partnership also hosted training sessions at their venue.
• Red Cross and Fedasil (Belgium)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership for Inside Centre d'accueil project offering three-day artistic workshops in Red Cross and Fedasil centers for refugees and newcomers in Belgium, engaging both adults and children.
• Lifelong Learning Platform (LLLP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIYMF is a proud member of LLLP, participating in General Assemblies and policy discussions on AI in education, shaping EU education policy and advocacy for arts-based learning.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing relationship; MUS-E programme was created with UNESCO support in 1993. UNESCO continues to be a key partner in promoting culture and arts education globally.
• Royal Library of BelgiummajorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for annual gala concerts and cultural events, providing prestigious setting in Brussels for concerts such as 'Canciones de Sefarad'.
• MUS-E BelgiumcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational MUS-E association implementing the programme in Belgium, coordinating training sessions and local program delivery in Brussels and other regions.
• Engagement with National Bank of BelgiumsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for Homelands project, supporting artistic co-creation projects for refugee and newcomer artists in Belgium.
• U.S. Embassy in BelgiumsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting Homelands project initiatives.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• London Music Masters: UK charity delivering music education programmes in schools and communities, including peer-learning projects for young musicians. Comparable as a school-based music/arts education nonprofit serving diverse UK communities.
• El Sistema: Venezuelan-origin global network delivering intensive music education to disadvantaged children through in-school programmes. Most directly comparable to MUS-E® in mission, methodology and target population of underserved youth.
• Sistema Scotland: Scottish charity running Big Noise programmes that deliver immersive music education to children in disadvantaged communities, closely mirroring MUS-E®'s artist-in-schools delivery model and social inclusion goals.
• Live Music Now: UK charity bringing professional musicians into healthcare, community and school settings. Closely aligned to IYMF's model of placing professional artists in non-traditional venues (nursing homes, refugee centres, schools).
• Sistema England: English affiliate of the El Sistema model providing music education in schools in areas of socio-economic disadvantage. Operates the same artist-in-schools, social-inclusion logic as IYMF's MUS-E® programme.
• English National Opera (Baylis Programme): ENO's learning and participation arm runs creative-arts programmes in schools and communities, including for refugee and vulnerable groups. Comparable mix of school delivery and social-inclusion mission.
• In Harmony: UK El Sistema-inspired programme delivering music education in schools serving deprived communities. Similar target audience and school-embedded delivery approach to MUS-E®.

Broad incumbents

• European Cultural Foundation: Amsterdam-based foundation funding pan-European cultural and arts initiatives with a strong social inclusion lens. Overlaps with IYMF's EU policy engagement and arts-for-inclusion thesis, but at a grantmaking rather than direct-delivery level.
• Carnegie Hall (Weill Music Institute): Major US-based arts institution with broad education and social-justice programmes including school residencies and professional development for educators. Comparable scale and school-based delivery, but as part of a much wider institutional portfolio.

Emerging players

• Aga Khan Music Initiative: Foundation programme supporting music and arts education and cultural preservation across diverse communities, including refugee contexts. Comparable focus on arts, cultural diversity and marginalised communities, though with a stronger preservation angle.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/IYMF
• Facebookfacebook.com/InternationalYehudiMenuhinFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-yehudi-menuhin-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/international_ymf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation