“I’m a musician. My instrument is not luggage.”

Hello,
My name is Valentina Scheldhofen Ciardelli. I’m a double bassist and composer, and an active touring performer. I travel constantly—across Europe and beyond—for concerts, festivals, collaborations, and teaching. Wherever I go, I bring my instrument. And every single time, I face the same struggle.

My double bass is not a suitcase. It’s my voice. My livelihood. My responsibility. Yet it is often treated as oversized luggage, subject to arbitrary rules, unpredictable costs, and even disrespectful handling by airline or train staff unfamiliar with the needs of traveling musicians.

Too often, I’ve had to:
- Negotiate with airport staff who don’t know what a double bass is.
- Pay random fees designed for sports gear or oversized luggage—not professional tools.
- Watch helplessly as security staff open or mishandle my case, risking damage to the bass or my bow—one of the most fragile and valuable parts of my instrument.
- Miss connections, lose time, and suffer anxiety, all because no clear rule exists to protect professional musicians in transit.

This experience is not unique to me. Thousands of musicians across Europe go through this daily. That’s why I’m now advocating for a EU-wide set of clear and fair rules for transporting musical instruments—by plane and train.

What we’re asking for:
✅ Recognize musical instruments as professional equipment, not just extra baggage.
✅ Clear, capped, and predictable fees for transporting large instruments like the double bass, harp, or tuba.
✅ Mandatory presence of the musician during any inspection of the instrument—only we know how to open, secure, and protect it safely.
✅ Equal treatment across all EU and UK airlines and trains—no more operator-by-operator confusion.
✅ Protection against unjustified seizure or damage at customs—especially for historically or legally compliant parts like bow tips or saddles made from antique ivory, tortoiseshell, or restricted woods.
✅ Legal recognition that many instruments were built decades or centuries ago, using materials now regulated—but removing or replacing these parts would irreversibly damage the instruments. A cultural and legal exemption framework is urgently needed to protect these tools of our heritage.
✅ Creation of an EU Cultural Freight Label to guarantee priority handling, trained personnel, and cultural status recognition.

This isn’t a luxury request. It’s a call for basic rights for working artists—so we can keep doing our jobs, safely and without fear. 

Music moves across borders.
Let’s make sure the people who create it can move too—freely, safely, and with dignity.

Please sign and share this petition. We need all people not only musicians to sign this petition, music is part of everyone life! 
Let’s bring this proposal to the European Commission, national ministries, airlines, and train operators.
Let’s build a real bridge for cultural mobility between Europe and the UK.

Thank you for standing with us.

Valentina Scheldhofen Ciardelli
Double bassist, composer, cultural mobility advocate

“My Instrument Is Not Luggage – Let Music Move Freely Across Europe”
“One Continent One Rule: Fair Travel for Musicians”
“Musicians Deserve Better: Support Instrument Travel Laws”

www.valentinaciardelli.com

DETAILS PROPOSAL (Still work in progress) Please feel free to contact me to add new vital information regarding your instrument.