SPOR partner in EU-funded project on diversity

Sounds Now is the name of a new project to create more diversity in the way music is curated. Nine of the most prominent festivals and cultural centres in Europe take part in the programme which is funded by the EU-programme Creative Europe.

Nine of the biggest and most prominent festivals in Europe within new music and sound art have joined forces to create the 4 year long project Sounds Now - supported by EU’s Creative Europe.

It is a cause close to heart for the two artistic managers of SPOR festival - ensuring more diversity within the business. Anne Marqvardsen says:

”The general frame is to look at the scope of new music and push for more diversity - both concerning the creating and performing artist but also in the institutions behind festivals and curating. How can we better reflect the world as it is today and not maintain old fashioned structures of programming?”

Facts on Sounds Now
Sounds Now is a multi-action programme that focuses on new and emerging curators as a sustainable way to promote inclusion in contemporary classical music, experimental music and sound art.

Sounds Now's network of 9 festivals and cultural centres will implement a programme of learning, mentoring, productions, experimentation and research that explores the social and artistic impact of the curator's role in contemporary music. These actions will generate a much-needed discourse on music curating, provide experience to participants in a variety of social and cultural contexts, and diversify the current pool of curators by providing concrete new pathways into the profession for people “on the outside”.

Actions aimed at participants across Europe include coaching and co-working labs with established international music curators, the testing of innovative curating formats, the creation of new works and networks, a formal learning course and research.

Partners:

BE                  Musica, Neerpelt (koordinator)
BE                  Wilde Westen, Kortrijk
BE                  Festival van Vlaanderen Vlaams-Brabant vzw (also known as Transit), Leuven
DK                 SPOR festival, Arhus 
FI                   Viitasaaren Kesäakatemia Ry (også kendt som Time of Music), Viitasaari
NL                 Stichting November Music, ’s-Hertogenbosch
NO                 Stiftelsen Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival (også kendt som Ultima), Oslo
UK                 Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Huddersfield
GR                 Ariona Hellas (also known as Onassis Cultural Centre), Athen