The AVENUE CoVE (Audiovisual Education and Training Network for European Vocational Excellence) – ERASMUS+ project is a network of professional excellence in the audiovisual sector launched in 2025. It connects five European ecosystems to strengthen skills, training, and career opportunities in the creative visual industries.
AVENUE CoVE aims to support learners, students, educators, and industry professionals in developing practical skills in content creation, entrepreneurship, and innovation. By promoting sustainable practices and healthier working environments, the project contributes to a more resilient, inclusive, and future-ready creative industry across Europe.
The project is structured for a duration of four years and focuses on professional and technical training in specific creative fields, namely:
- Animation (Denmark) | The Animation Ecosystem, coordinated by The Animation Workshop at VIA University College in Denmark, focuses on challenges and skill mismatches in the animation industry. It collaborates with Creative Viborg, the Danish national hub for the visual industry and a support center for Media Arts companies, and industry experts from Beyond Horizon and Tumblehead, as well as associate partner Viborg Kommune.
- Games(France) | The Games Ecosystem, dedicated to the video game industry, is coordinated by Cnam-Enjmin, France’s leading school for Video Games and Digital Interactive Media, a driving force in educating and inspiring new generations of game designers, developers, artists, and storytellers. The ecosystem is developed in close collaboration with Pôle créatif Magelis, a cornerstone of the French creative industries for animation, comics, cinema, and video games, and it is further supported by the company Ubisoft Paris, and the associated partner BoCAJ.
- Virtual Production (Netherlands) | The Virtual Production & VFX Ecosystem is led by Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas) in the Netherlands – one of the first universities in Europe to establish a fully equipped Virtual Production Studio on its campus, offering open access to educators, trainers, students, and researchers. The ecosystem is developed in close collaboration with industry partner Filmmore, and is further supported by associated partner Epic Games.
- Visual Storytelling (Ireland) | The Virtual Storytelling Ecosystem, dedicated to the interaction of visual storytelling with digital media, is coordinated by the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology in Ireland, a higher education institution with a focus on the creative, cultural, and technology sectors. The ecosystem is driven by the Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet, a national leader in talent and skills development, supporting the growth and long-term sustainability of Ireland’s cultural and creative industries, while Studio Meala is industry partner.
- Extended Reality (Italy) | The Extended Reality (XR) Ecosystem is a research space based in Italy, involving as main players Politecnico di Torino which is the coordinator and the reference for the training area, Film Commission Torino Piemonte as Ecosystem Driver, along with and Prodea Group (Industry Partner). CSC Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia – Sede Piemonte Animazione and Cartoon Italia have also joined the project.
The XR Ecosystem is coordinated by Politecnico di Torino, one of Italy’s leading technical universities, renowned for its excellence in education, research, and innovation. With a strong foundation in science, engineering, and architecture, Politecnico di Torino is at the forefront of research and development in the field of Extended Reality (XR), encompassing Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR). The ecosystem is developed in close collaboration with Film Commission Torino Piemonte, a regional engine for the audiovisual and digital creative sectors. It is further strengthened by its industry partner Prodea Group and supported by associated partners Cartoon Italia and the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia Together, these actors foster a dynamic environment for experimentation, co-creation, and applied innovation in XR.
Starting from 2026, the Italian ecosystem will implement advanced training activities and opportunities for professional development and networking aimed at facilitating access to the European market for students and young professionals in the sector. The project focuses on continuously addressing emerging challenges and skill mismatches in the field of extended reality and immersive cinema. Through ongoing, practice-based research, it aims to provide relevant and immediate upskilling opportunities, foster excellence in vocational education and training, support innovation, and promote inclusion across the creative sector.
As part of the AVENUE CoVE project, Film Commission Torino Piemonte has launched TFI Immersive – a brand new section part of TFI Torino Film Industry 8 dedicated to audiovisual practices that are expanding languages and aesthetics beyond the confines of the cinema screen. The aim is to create a platform for observation, dialogue, and growth for those working in the audiovisual sector who wish to keep pace with the transformations of an ever-evolving sector. TFI Immersive has also set up an Immersive Lounge, with the collaboration and support of Politecnico di Torino and the Visionary Media Lab of Ingegneria del cinema e dei media digitali. The program showcased some of the most innovative creations by national and international artists, curated by Film Commission Torino Piemonte and ShorTO Film Market, as well as projects developed by Officine Sintetiche and by students from the Politecnico di Torino and the Università di Torino in collaboration with the Museo Nazionale del Cinema.
Find out more about AVENUE CoVE - ERASMUS+.
Find out more about TFI Immersive.