IncluMusic project featured in Helsinki
Music, Research and Activism II: Solidarities and Urgencies
14-16 May, 2025
University of Helsinki, Finland
Paula Mladin (ANMGD)
The second edition of the international conference Music, Research and Activism, organized by the University of Helsinki between May 14 and 16, 2025, provided a unique opportunity to disseminate the results of the IncluMusic – Increasing Skills for Building More Inclusive Conservatories project within a vast and complex program, which over the course of three days covered topics such as Activism & Pedagogy, Language & discourse, Resilience & Resistance, Music and Cultural Appropriation, Corporeality & positionality, Decolonial perspectives, Memory & cultural heritage, Instruments & traditions and other current issues related to musical practice. Over 90 speakers from around the world gave presentations, workshops, or panels, reiterating— overall, through the topics addressed individually—the role of music and music research in the advancement of equality, equity, human rights, or ecological sustainability, in building and reimagining solidarity, and the representation of urgency in music.
Set up at the intersection of such topics as diversity, equity, and inclusion projects within music institutions and industries and activist music research in university teaching, the IncluMusic presentation bearing the very title of the project – IncluMusic. Increasing Skills for Building More Inclusive Conservatories – made by Researcher Paula Mladin, PhD from the Gheorghe Dima National Academy of Music took place during the first session at the City Centre Campus of the University of Helsinki, suggestively entitled Activism & Pedagogy.
Designed to spark interest in the IncluMusic course among recipients, the presentation focused mainly on the approach and content underlying the six modules, with explicit references to some of the component sessions, without overlooking the data, relevance, objectives, and context in which the project was designed and implemented to date. Before highlighting the conclusions, Paula Mladin launched an Open Invitation among the participants to join the External Testing Process that was about to start during Work Package 4. The questions and comments following the presentation revealed a high level of interest in the project's activities and results, accompanied by appreciation for the considerable work invested in developing the courses for teachers and administrative staff, as well as for the integrative vision underlying them.
Aiming at building more inclusive Higher Music Education systems, by raising awareness and training of academics, as well as by creating a community of Higher Music Education institutions adopting social inclusion practices, the Music, Research and Activism II: Solidarities and Urgencies Conference organized by the University of Helsinki proved to be an ideal platform for disseminating the objectives and results of the IncluMusic to an audience focused on the activist side of music practice and research.
For further information regarding the full programme of the conference and abstracts featured, follow the links below:
https://www.helsinki.fi/en/conferences/music-research-and-activism/programme
https://www.helsinki.fi/assets/drupal/2025-05/Abstract_Musact_0.pdf
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the National Agency for Community Programs in the Field of Education and Professional Development. Neither the European Union nor ANPCDEFP can be held responsible for them.