Rethinking Music Heritage conference
The conference addresses the various forms of music heritage and is the closing event of the research project “Diversity of Music Heritage in Finland.”
About the conference
The University of the Arts Helsinki is pleased to announce an international conference on the various forms of music heritage. The conference is the closing event of the research project “Diversity of Music Heritage in Finland”, funded by Kone Foundation in 2023–25. The conference is co-organised by the History Forum and the Seinäjoki Unit of the University of the Arts Helsinki.
Heritage has become an increasingly prominent focus across cultural policy, tourism and academic studies. In the realm of music, numerous heritage sites exist worldwide, alongside UNESCO’s designated Cities of Music. Music also plays a key role in international and national lists of intangible cultural heritage.
In music scholarship, studies examining heritage are expanding, particularly within ethnomusicology and popular music studies. This scholarship often splits into two main areas: one focuses on non-European folk and traditional music, with an emphasis on human and minority rights, while the other explores popular music’s role in shaping the uniqueness of cities and regions, as well as in their branding and promotion. In both areas, the heritagisation of music intersects with cultural politics, music tourism and the management of intellectual property rights, as well as with digital innovation and museum practices, especially regarding institutional stewardship of music’s cultural and economic value.
Call for presentations
The organisers invite individual paper and panel proposals from a broad range of approaches addressing the relationship between music and heritage in all its diversity. A variety of scholarly standpoints, voices and disciplines is welcomed and encouraged. Relevant topics include, but are not limited to:
• music in the museum;
• music in the archive;
• music heritage, history and canonisation;
• music heritage communities;
• music, heritage and the dynamics of inclusion and exclusion;
• music heritage and migration;
• music heritage and local branding;
• music heritage and human rights;
• music heritage and cultural policy;
• music heritage and academic disciplines;
• music and intangible cultural heritage;
• music and heritage tourism;
• “musical rubbish”;
• genres of music heritage;
• DIY music heritage;
• digital music heritage.
• Cities of Music and heritage-making.
Alongside conventional papers and panels, the organisers welcome other presentation forms as well (e.g., films, workshops). Please send an abstract of no more than 300 words to music.heritage@uniarts.fi, no later than 28 February 2025. Please make sure to include in your abstract:
• the name(s) of presenter(s) and their affiliation(s)
• contact information
• the title of the presentation
• objectives, materials, and methods (or a report of an ongoing or completed project)
• 3–5 keywords
• if you are proposing a full panel with individual presentations, please include an abstract of each presentation alongside a brief summary of the panel.
Notifications of acceptance will be sent by 31 March 2025.
Organising committee and contact information
The members of the organising committee are:
Prof Antti-Ville Villén (chair)
BA Farida Albrecht (secretary)
Dr Giacomo Bottà
Prof Anne Kauppala
Dr Janne Mäkelä
Prof Saijaleena Rantanen
MA Annukka Saaristo
Dr Elina Seye
Dr Outi Valo
The event is organised by the research project “Diversity of Music Heritage in Finland”, funded by Kone Foundation (2023–25), in collaboration with the History Forum and the Seinäjoki Unit of the University of the Arts Helsinki.
For further information, please contact music.heritage@uniarts.fi.
The conference addresses the various forms of music heritage and is the closing event of the research project “Diversity of Music Heritage in Finland.”
About the conference
The University of the Arts Helsinki is pleased to announce an international conference on the various forms of music heritage. The conference is the closing event of the research project “Diversity of Music Heritage in Finland”, funded by Kone Foundation in 2023–25. The conference is co-organised by the History Forum and the Seinäjoki Unit of the University of the Arts Helsinki.
Heritage has become an increasingly prominent focus across cultural policy, tourism and academic studies. In the realm of music, numerous heritage sites exist worldwide, alongside UNESCO’s designated Cities of Music. Music also plays a key role in international and national lists of intangible cultural heritage.
In music scholarship, studies examining heritage are expanding, particularly within ethnomusicology and popular music studies. This scholarship often splits into two main areas: one focuses on non-European folk and traditional music, with an emphasis on human and minority rights, while the other explores popular music’s role in shaping the uniqueness of cities and regions, as well as in their branding and promotion. In both areas, the heritagisation of music intersects with cultural politics, music tourism and the management of intellectual property rights, as well as with digital innovation and museum practices, especially regarding institutional stewardship of music’s cultural and economic value.
Call for presentations
The organisers invite individual paper and panel proposals from a broad range of approaches addressing the relationship between music and heritage in all its diversity. A variety of scholarly standpoints, voices and disciplines is welcomed and encouraged. Relevant topics include, but are not limited to:
• music in the museum;
• music in the archive;
• music heritage, history and canonisation;
• music heritage communities;
• music, heritage and the dynamics of inclusion and exclusion;
• music heritage and migration;
• music heritage and local branding;
• music heritage and human rights;
• music heritage and cultural policy;
• music heritage and academic disciplines;
• music and intangible cultural heritage;
• music and heritage tourism;
• “musical rubbish”;
• genres of music heritage;
• DIY music heritage;
• digital music heritage.
• Cities of Music and heritage-making.
Alongside conventional papers and panels, the organisers welcome other presentation forms as well (e.g., films, workshops). Please send an abstract of no more than 300 words to music.heritage@uniarts.fi, no later than 28 February 2025. Please make sure to include in your abstract:
• the name(s) of presenter(s) and their affiliation(s)
• contact information
• the title of the presentation
• objectives, materials, and methods (or a report of an ongoing or completed project)
• 3–5 keywords
• if you are proposing a full panel with individual presentations, please include an abstract of each presentation alongside a brief summary of the panel.
Notifications of acceptance will be sent by 31 March 2025.
Organising committee and contact information
The members of the organising committee are:
Prof Antti-Ville Villén (chair)
BA Farida Albrecht (secretary)
Dr Giacomo Bottà
Prof Anne Kauppala
Dr Janne Mäkelä
Prof Saijaleena Rantanen
MA Annukka Saaristo
Dr Elina Seye
Dr Outi Valo
The event is organised by the research project “Diversity of Music Heritage in Finland”, funded by Kone Foundation (2023–25), in collaboration with the History Forum and the Seinäjoki Unit of the University of the Arts Helsinki.
For further information, please contact music.heritage@uniarts.fi.