The aim of PULSE-ART is to demonstrate how the use of arts in education contributes to the development of cultural awareness and expression (CAE) in European youth by incorporating a lifelong learning perspective, identifying gaps, overcoming barriers and promoting opportunities to increase the capacity of the education system to support learners in developing competences. At the heart of this initiative lies the concept of integrating art, culture, and heritage institutions into the educational framework. This integration aims to effectively address the deficiencies of the educational system, hindering the improvement of CAE through the arts. 
Reference materials will be created and integrated into the Arts in Education for Cultural Awareness Observatory, including a Competency Framework, a Professional Development Programme and a self-reflection tool, which will be validated and tested through 7 case studies in 7 countries using different art techniques with a lifelong learning perspective. Collaborative Hubs between educational institutions and art and cultural heritage organisations will be created to bridge the identified gaps through innovative and tailored methodologies of arts in education, leveraging the expertise and fostering partnerships. 
PULSE-ART is committed to ensuring the inclusion of all children and young people, with a central aim of promoting democracy and civic engagement across Europe. Through the development of local partnerships and case studies, PULSE-ART will address the diversity of educational systems and local contexts, integrating intercultural perspectives, inclusivity, and gender considerations into its research framework. 
National action plans and a European policy brief will be developed to influence policies that support the integration of arts into education, aiming to enhance civic awareness and engagement (CAE).