CfP: Diversity of Music Heritage, Kaustinen, Finland

Call for Presentations: Diversity of Music Heritage

8–9 June 2023, Folk Art Centre, Kaustinen, Finland

Deadline for Proposals: 31.03.2023

Heritage has become an increasingly attractive area of activity, whether in official cultural policies, tourist destinations or academic inquiries. Concerning music, there are numerous heritage sites around the world, as well as the network of Cities of Music, sanctioned by UNESCO. Music features centrally also in global and national listings of intangible cultural heritage.

In music research, there is a growing body of relevant analyses, notably in the fields of ethnomusicology and popular music studies. Consequently, there is arguably a dual focus either on non-European folk and traditional musics with an interest in human and minority rights, or on popular music as a component in the originality of cities and other localities, as well as in their promotion and branding. In both cases heritagisation of music is intertwined with cultural politics, music tourism and exploitation of immaterial property rights, not to mention developing digital innovations or music in the museum, for instance when considering how institutional holdings and responses to music’s cultural and economic value are managed.

To address these and any other related topics, papers and presentations are hereby invited to a two-day symposium. The language of the symposium is English. There will be no parallel sessions, and therefore proposals should be designed to cover either one 15-minute individual presentation or a one-hour session with three or four participants. Other formats may also be suggested; please note that the event is in-person only ie. remote participation will not be considered.

The proposals should include an abstract with no more than 200 words (600 words for a one-hour session), appended with a biographical note of a maximum of 100 words about each presenter. Please send the proposals no later than 31 March 2023 to kmi[at]kaustinen.fi. Notifications of acceptance will be sent by the end of April 2023.

The symposium is a joint effort between the research project ”Diversity of Music Heritage in Finland”, funded by Kone Foundation and hosted by the University of the Arts Helsinki in collaboration with the Finnish Folk Music Institute, and the Nordic and Baltic network on Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Kaustinen is a rural municipality of roughly 4 300 inhabitants, located in Central Ostrobothnia some 450 km north from Helsinki, the capital of Finland, and known for its annual Folk Music Festival (kaustinen.net/en/) which in 2022 brought in 43 000 visitors. The nearest railway station is Kokkola, 4 h from Helsinki and 45 km from Kaustinen; for travel options, see www.vr.fi/en/, and for bus connections from Kokkola to Kaustinen, www.matkahuolto.fi/en/. The organisers plan to provide a chartered bus for the purpose, with details to be communicated in due course. Accommodation will be available at Hotel Kaustinen with special pricing (69 € single, 89 € double, breakfast included); booking instructions will be communicated once speakers are confirmed. For further information about the symposium, please contact the organisers at kmi[at]kaustinen.fi.

On behalf of the organisers, welcome!

Professor Antti-Ville Villén, Visiting Fellow, University of Cambridge

Director Matti Hakamäki, Finnish Folk Music Institute, Kaustinen