MusicaTransforma Summary

MusicaTransforma developed out of a research project begun by Rhythmix in January 2008 to map community music in Europe. Despite the quantity of successful and inspiring music projects taking place in Europe, in many countries the profile of these projects both nationally and at European level is relatively low. MusicaTransforma’s aim was to provide a space for the European organisations and individuals developing community music to meet others, discuss important issues, create and share projects, and develop strategies for profile-raising.

The idea for MusicaTransforma was based on the concept that an increase in support and activity for community music in a number of different areas, including exchanges, networks and training, would raise the profile of this type of work, creating jobs for musicians and music-making opportunities for many more people. A successful grant application to Barcelona City Council’s Institut de Cultura and the Universitat de Barcelona’s interest in hosting the event are what made the idea a reality.

From the very beginning, the reaction from the organisations and individuals that we contacted about MusicaTranforma was extremely positive, and by the time the registration for the event was over, we had more than sixty delegates from more than seven European countries.

The day began with a look at the European funding possibilities for community music projects, with an explanation of the EU Culture Programme from Augusto Paramio Nieto followed by a presentation from Jordi Balta from the Interarts Foundation about alternative EU funds from other policy areas, such as education, youth and social inclusion, which could be applied to community music activity.

The European partnership working session featured three different projects: a presentation from Catherine Pestano, who coordinated an award-winning community music project in Serbia conducted by an English-Serbian team in an urban and a rural community in a post-conflict context in Serbia. Andrea Gancs from Hungary provided an insight into the musical context in Hungary, and presented the two EU-funded programmes which she has been involved in, in partnership with UK organisations CM and Serious. Agia Luna from Artixoc, a artistic youth exchange organisation based in Barcelona, presented an in-depth explanation of the key needs and challenges of European partnership working.

While the European partnership working debate continued, the practical workshops took place. The workshops were a fantastic reflection of the quality and variety of community musicians in Europe. There were three workshops on offer, one based on North African percussion led by Mimoun Himmit, an experienced and inspirational workshop leader based in Rotterdam, Holland; Ollie Finn and Max Wheeler from Rhythmix offered “instant rap” and other elements of urban music workshops; and the third workshop was a collaboration between Robert Farkas (Hungary) and Llorenç Peris (Spain) who came together exclusively for MusicaTransforma using a well-known gypsy tune and LIVE computer software.

The afternoon began with a performance from Gota Doble, a group that grew out of the Barcelona-based cultural project DJs Contra la Fam. Latin-inspired beats accompanied by very political content. The delegates were then given the opportunity to network amongst themselves in the marketplace, a practical session for delegates to have a chance to meet like-minded organisations and individuals, approach potential project partners and propose project ideas and exchanges.

The last part of the day was split into parallel discussion sessions, one looking at community musicians and training from a UK perspective, with a presentation from MusicLeader, and the other focusing on the possibility of a network or networks for community music in Europe, led by Ben Higham from Community Music East.

The conference was concrete evidence of the interest that community music generates all over Europe, not least in Catalonia where a large number of cultural and social organisations jumped at the chance to meet and share experiences with similar organisations from the UK, Hungary and Holland.

The conference was an extremely positive experience. Events like these are vital for uniting people and projects and strengthening the community music sector Europe-wide. I am sure that real projects will come out of the contacts people made here in Barcelona, and I look forward to hearing about them.

Special thanks to Beverly Whitrick and Karin Perchthaler, Mark Davyd and Mark Randall from Rhythmix, Phil Mullen and all the speakers and delegates that made MusicaTransforma the event that it was.

Thank you everyone!

The MusicaTransforma was a great success, the speakers were fantastic and the turnout was excellent. We will shortly publish a summary of the day here for those of you that were unable to make it.

Thanks to everyone who made it possible!

The MusicaTransforma Team

Registration for MusicaTransforma is CLOSED

Due to the proximity of the event and the high number of delegates, registration for MusicaTransforma is now closed.

Please get in touch with musicatransforma@gmail.com if you would like to receive a summary of the event by email.

Thank you for visiting our website, and we hope to see you at events in the future!

Best wishes,

The MusicaTransforma Team

MusicaTransforma - just 3 days to sign up!

That's right, you have just 3 days until registration for MusicaTransforma closes.

To make things easier, you can copy our BOOKING FORM and send it to us:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcvzp86n_37cq3sm5fp

Please send it urgently to: booking.transforma@gmail.com

Make sure you fill in the Interest and Organisation sections, as this information will go onto our Delegate List.

Almost there!

Less than a month to go until we meet here in Barcelona!

We have confirmed delegates from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Hungary and Estonia, as well as Barcelona of course.

Please get in touch with the MusicaTransforma team if you have any doubts, or have not yet received the detailed information.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

MusicaTransforma

How to book

If you would like to attend MusicaTransforma, please request the General Information and Booking Form by emailing booking.transforma@gmail.com

Booking Forms must be emailed to booking.transforma@gmail.com by 31 October 2008.

Here is some additional information for those of you who are thinking of attending:

Accommodation
MusicaTransforma has organised a number of discounted accommodation options for delegates.

Delegate pack / Conference bag
As befits an event of practical intent, MusicaTransforma will provide a delegate pack which has a use beyond the conference in terms of names and contact details. In addition to this we hope to assemble a Conference Bag packed with interesting and relevant goodies. We therefore invite organisations and individuals to submit materials such as business cards, flyers, brochures, CDs etc. for inclusion.

If you are unable to attend the conference but would like to submit materials for the bag, please email booking.transforma@gmail.com with details.

Contact
For further information and any enquiries please contact Rebecca Gale Hayes on (+34) 653 142037 or by email musicatransforma@gmail.com

Areas we are going to look at

Dear all

The programme is being polished as we speak, here is a little update on some of the areas we are going to work on:

1. Community Music Projects and Cultural Policy and Funding in Europe
Where, Who and How: some tools for organisations wanting to tap into European funding.

2. Community Music in Action
Some examples of highly regarded international partnership projects and the chance to talk to the organisations that created and coordinated them, and workshops run by musicians the involved.

3. Networking
A discussion group looking at the possibilities of European networks.

4. Training
A look at training opportunities for community musicians in the UK and Europe.

All set!

Hopefully some of you have now recieved information about our conference - the MusicaTransforma team has grown and we hope you are tempted by the exciting package we have put together for you.

The Universitat de Barcelona are all set to host the event, and very enthusiastic. They have generously offered a number of spaces on campus in order to accomodate the MusicaTransforma event, as well as all of their instruments.

Keep checking in for updates on the programme, and other additional information.

Musica Transforma Project Brief

Community Music aims to create an environment in which music-making is available to everyone. This accessibility is kept independent of backgrounds, religion, economic status or ability. It also offers a diverse range of musicians the chance to inspire others and to facilitate music-making, encouraging self-taught musicians in particular to share their experiences and challenge traditional attitudes towards music teaching.

In Europe, the participation of civil society in culture and cultural diversity has become a priority, and it is clear that Community Music is a tool that can aid and enrich this process. Fusion in music is a metaphor for cultural diversity, where different cultures can meet, interact and mix, on equal terms, and discover a future together while also embracing the past.

This one day event is supported by the Institut de Cultura de Barcelona, the Universitat de Barcelona (Departament de Didactica de l'Expressio Musical i Corporal) and organised by Rhythmix. The conference aims to bring musicians, advocates and organisations together to:
• Discuss the issues and challenges of creating and running European Community Music projects
• Provide an opportunity to create new partnerships and projects
• Consider potential structures for networking in the future
• Showcase Community Music in Europe and profile some of the musicians and organisations currently developing it
• Reflect on the role of Community Music in European Cultural Policy.

For more information, watch this space, or email us at: musicatransforma@gmail.com

From idea... to reality!!

In February I decided to apply to the Ajuntament de Barcelona (in Catalan) for some money to organise an event about Community Music in Europe. Since January I have been researching European Community Music projects in European on behalf of Rhythmix, a Community Music project in South East England.

A few months later, to my surprise, I received a letter telling me I had been successful, and that the lovely people at the Institut de Cultura de Barcelona had decided to support the event.