On 7 December 2022, PLAY GROUND joined forces with HOGENT, the University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Ghent, in a conference centered around the international research project ‘Music for social impact’.
Through talks, workshops, miniconcerts and network moments, the conference shed a light on the individual musician’s perspective and experience in social music practices.
Program
10:00 - Welcome
10:30 - 11:45 Keynote by Dr. Gillian Howell: The possibilities and ambiguities of music-making as a site of social impact: Stories from the field.
Gillian Howell is a Research Fellow at The University of Melbourne, where she leads a portfolio of research examining the contributions of participatory music and arts to post-war peace and reconciliation. An award-winning community music leader and educator, she has worked in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste, and leads participatory composition projects with diverse communities across Australia, most recently songwriting in endangered First Nations’ languages with communities in Australia’s remote north-west.
The keynote is followed by a panel discussion with musicians active in socially engaged music practices in Belgium. In the panel discussion we translate Gillian’s keynote to the Belgian context: What do we recognize in her view which is similar in the musicians’ experiences in Belgium? What is different in the Belgian context? Is it possible to articulate a common experience-led view on social impact of music-making?
Panel: Gillian Howell, Hilde Declercq, Sarah Théry & Thomas Noël
11:45 - 12:00 - Musical intervention by Gillian Howell
12:00 - 13:30 - Lunch
13:30 - 14:00 - Findings from the international research project ‘Music for social impact: practitioners’ contexts, work & beliefs’ (Anemone van Zijl & An De bisschop)
The International research project ‘Music for social impact: practitioners’ contexts, work & beliefs’ works towards a systematic and in-depth analysis of musicians undertaking Socially Impactful Music Making activities in different countries (Colombia, Belgium, Finland, UK), exploring how their backgrounds, training, beliefs and contexts influence the way they perform their work. More information on the research project can be found here. Dr. Anemone van Zijl has a background in Music Psychology and Arts and Social Sciences. She works as a postdoctoral researcher in the international project ‘Music for Social Impact: Practitioners’ contexts, work, and beliefs’. Dr. An De bisschop is lecturer Arts Education & Participatory Arts Practices at the School of Arts-Royal Conservatory, Ghent. Her main focus, for both research and teaching are participatory arts practices & teacher education. She is Chief Investigator for the international project ‘Music for Social Impact: Practitioners’ contexts, work, and beliefs’ in the Belgian Context.
14:00 - 16:00 - Workshops by Anemone van Zijl, An De bisschop and An Van den Bergh
14:00 – 14:45 - Workshop 1: Dynamics of Social Impact
What is the social impact of participatory music making? Our research reveals that social impact is a layered and dynamic combination of musicians’ intentions, core aspects of practice, and effects. Explore with colleagues what this means for your work!
14:45-15:15 - Coffee break
15:15-16:00 - Workshop 2: Emotional Challenges in Participatory Music Activities
Musicians working with people living in challenging circumstances may face situations which deeply affect them. How to deal with this in the process ofcreating music together? Discuss with colleagues which strategies of affective protection may work for you, and what kind of support would be useful.
16:00 - Concert by Mais quelle chanson (Kapinga Gysel)
16:30 - Closing drink
17:00 - End
Practical Information
When?
Wednesday 7 December 2022 – 10:00 – 17:00
Where?
Ha Concerts – Kouter 29 – 9000 Gent (BE) – www.haconcerts.be
For all details regarding accessibility 👉 click here
Entrance fee is 30€ (including lunch & drinks)