Do we want everyone to have access to the psychological, physical, social and educational benefits of collective singing?
Do we want everyone to be able to advance their skills and achieve the highest possible level of artistic quality?
If we are serious about our aims, then making our spaces safer has to be a priority, for choirs, conductors and organisations. A welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone is fundamental, not optional.
But how do we make our spaces safer? This webinar seeks to bring practical answers to that question, drawing on the knowledge, skills and expertise of its speakers:
• Henrike Schauerte from Deutsche Chorjugend will present the project “Children’s Choirs as Safe Spaces”
• Minnakaisa Kuivalainen will share the practical approaches they are implementing at the Tampere Music Festival and show how they are putting social responsibility into practice
• Sophie Dowden will present the European Choral Association’s actions in the field of inclusion.
Join us for this essential discussion to make collective singing spaces safer for everyone!
MEET THE PRESENTERS
Henrike Schauerte (DE) is a cultural scientist and breathing, voice and speech teacher. Within her various artistic/educational and cultural management activities, the topics of participation, child protection and child-friendly singing are at the centre of her work. As a consultant for children’s choir programmes at the Deutsche Chorjugend, she is responsible for the ‘Chor-mit Sicherheit!’ and ‘SingBus’ projects.
Minnakaisa Kuivalainen (FI) has been the Executive director of Tampere Music Festivals (Tampere Biennale, Tampere Jazz Happening, Tampere Vocal Music Festival) since 2004. Before that, she worked as a festival producer for Helsinki Festival in 2002 and Musica nova Helsinki in 2003-2004. Tampere Jazz Happening 2024 will be her 40th festival. Minnakaisa Kuivalainen has studied in the Conservatories of Helsinki and Kuopio, the University of Helsinki, Université Paris 8 and Université Paris-Sorbonne IV.
Sophie Dowden (FR/UK) is a freelance consultant for European cultural projects and policy, with a special focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEI&B) and mental health. On these topics, she facilitates processes and workshops, drafts reports, as well as advising and developing policies for cultural organisations to focus their actions on inclusion. Sophie was previously project manager at the European Choral Association, where she led the development of resources on inclusion for cultural organisations in the SHIFT project and prior to that, policy officer at Culture Action Europe.
The webinar is open to everyone and participation is free.
REGISTER HERE
Help us to spread the word and share the Facebook event!
This activity takes place in the frame of IGNITE, co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the EU.