Musicians Without Borders, in association with the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music at The University of Melbourne, the Creative Arts Research Institute at Griffith University, and the Music Department at SOAS University of London, invite stakeholders from across disciplines to the launch of two new reports that explore the role of music in peacebuilding. The reports include evaluations of Musicians Without Borders’ work in El Salvador, Palestine, and the Western Balkans.

Following presentation of the two reports, Dr. Cedric de Coning, Research Professor in the Research Group on Peace, Conflict and Development at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, and Dr. Heba El-Kholy, Independent Advisor on International Development and Peacebuilding and Musicians Without Borders supervisory board member, will offer a critical response to the reports and their findings, opening the floor thereafter to a broad discussion about what insights and value creative practices may bring to peacebuilding policies and processes.

Program and Speakers

Welcome and introduction

Laura Hassler, founder and director of Musicians Without Borders
Motivation for external research to evaluate the impacts of Musicians Without Borders projects and musical practices within theoretical models of peacebuilding.

Report Launch and Presentation

Angela Impey and Katie Bruce, SOAS, University of London
Framing Musicians Without Borders’ Peacebuilding Agenda. A Case Study analysis of Soy Música and Palestine Community Music.

Report Launch and Presentation

Gillian Howell, University of Melbourne, Brydie-Leigh Bartleet, Griffith University, and Jane Davidson, University of Melbourne
“First of all, be friends”: Rock music, social connection, inclusion and mobility in Kosovo and North Macedonia: An evaluation of Music Connects, a project using culture as a driver for social innovation in former Yugoslavia.

Discussants

Dr. Cedric de Coning, Research Professor in the Research Group on Peace, Conflict and Development at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs,

Dr. Heba El-Kholy, Independent Advisor on International Development and Peacebuilding and Musicians Without Borders supervisory board member.

Audience discussion

Moderator: Brydie-Leigh Bartleet, Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Creative Arts Research Institute, Griffith University.