ARTus NÖ: Lower Austria Introduces Modern Music School Management Software

PRESS RELEASE

Lower Austria’s music and arts schools are entering a new era of digital administration: With the new ARTus NÖ program, a standardized, statewide solution will be introduced at all 113 music and arts schools starting in September 2026. The goal is to sustainably modernize administration, simplify processes, and fully and accurately reflect the new funding guidelines of the Lower Austria Music School Act 2000.

The development of ARTus NÖ began after a successful tender process in spring 2024. Preparations started as early as summer of the same year, followed by detailed planning in fall 2024 together with a project group consisting of administrative staff and heads of music and arts schools. The software was developed by bit media education solutions GmbH and delivered at the end of 2025. At the same time, pilot operations with five music and arts schools have been running since the start of the 2025/2026 school year—interim results at the “halfway point” have been consistently positive.

With ARTus NÖ, the state’s music and arts schools are relying on a modern, web-based, and future-proof technology platform. The contracting authority benefits from bit media’s many years of experience in the public education sector. The solution is designed to be scalable, meets current standards in data protection and IT security, and ensures the long-term sustainability of operations, maintenance, and further development.

Transparency, efficiency, and data security were the main priorities during implementation. Only the data required for ongoing operations was transferred—following the principle “as little as possible, as much as necessary.” The new funding criteria were integrated precisely, ensuring that accounting and reporting can be carried out in a clearly structured and transparent manner in the future. Numerous meetings and workshops with the contracting authorities and the project team ensured that the software is optimally tailored to the needs of music and arts schools.

ARTus NÖ offers a wide range of solutions required in music and arts schools: from managing data of teachers as well as students, to tuition and discount billing, invoicing, scheduling, and reporting, through to exam administration, certificate generation, and rental item management. In addition, the software includes a secure communication platform that replaces existing WhatsApp groups. This allows administrators, teachers, children and young people, as well as their parents, to communicate efficiently, in a structured manner, and in compliance with GDPR.