The CUMULUS Network was initiated in 1990 by the University of Art and Design in Helsinki (UIAH) and the Royal College of Art in London, in co-operation with Danmarks Designskole, Gerrit Rietvelt Academy, Universitaet Gesamthochschule Essen and Hochschule fuer Angewandte Kunst in Vienna in order to enhance the quality of education through co-operation and student and teacher exchange within the European Union's Erasmus programme. The Network was registered as CUMULUS - International Association of Universities and Colleges of Art, Design and Media Association in 2001. CUMULUS has been a pioneer in developing jointly-organised MA programmes, intensive workshops, projects and biannual conferences. It has published 'working papers' which have documented the discussions and seminars in conferences, a First Aid Kit to help students and professors in planning mobility actions, and a web page. The number of members has grown from 6 to 124 (2007) and its member universities now represent 41 different countries.

The Slovene members of CUMULUS include the Academy of Fine Arts and Design and the Department of Textiles, University of Ljubljana.