In 1991 Menuhin created the International Yehudi Menuhin Foundation (IYMF), in Brussels by a Royal Decree, as the base for the implementation and coordination of his cultural projects. His vision was to give a voice to the voiceless through a number of programmes run by the Foundation. 

One of the very first projects established by the IYMF has been the MUS-E® programme. Menuhin believed that art opens new possibilities in our way of living, and therefore saw that artistic lessons should become part of the school curriculum. MUS-E started as a pilot project in 1994 in one school of Switzerland and has now become one of the biggest artistic programmes in schools throughout Europe.

Equally important is the mission of the IYMF to encourage the awareness, expression and recognition of cultural minorities through the “Assembly of the Cultures of Europe” (ACE). The ACE provides a platform enabling cultural groups to be heard and to have access to the European institutions. Two major meetings of the ACE took place, in 1997 and 1998 respectively, with the participation of representatives of the European Institutions, Council of Europe, UNESCO, Foundations dealing with cultural and underrepresented groups, diplomats and experts, as well as members of cultural and minority groups.