SIMM-seminars

Since 2018, groups of up to maximum 20 researchers from different disciplines and backgrounds attend the yearly SIMM-seminars during which an intensive seminar programme is offered.

During these 3-day seminar periods, researchers have the opportunity to present their research to one another, and exchange with eachother on research questions, realities and methodologies.  

Each seminar focuses on particular questions or topics in this field of research, such as for example: setting up comparative research, the organisation of long-term research projects, research on relation between the need for musical, social as well as cultural expertise in developing socio-artistic programmes, research on music projects in prisons, research on the role of composers within participatory music projects, research on participatory opera and music theatre…

Artists, social workers, educationalists, psychologists, political scientists and sociologists, who are developing research in this field are welcomed to propose and share their research projects within the context of these SIMM-seminars.

In 2018 the first SIMM-seminar was held in Helsinki in a close collaboration with the Sibelius Academy.

In 2019 the 2nd SIMM-seminar was organised at the University of Antwerp, in collaboration with the Antwerp Research Institute for the Arts (ARIA).

The Fondation Royaumont near Paris in 2021 organised a special format of SIMM-seminar: it brought together 10 musicians engaged in social and community music projects and 10 researchers doing research in this field (29.10-01.11.21).

In 2021 the Porto-based CIPEM (Centro de Investigação em Psicologia da Música e Educação Musical) welcomed the 4th SIMM-seminar on research on music in detention (6 to 9.12.21). 

In 2022 the 5th SIMM-seminar was organised in London at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama for scholars interested in exchanging experiences, ideas and research findings on which music is being proposed and created within social and community music programmes (5 to 8.09.22).

In 2023 the 6th SIMM-seminar was organised in Barcelona at the Gran Teatre del Liceu for scholars developing research on participatory opera and music theatre (12 to 14.06.23).

In 2024 the 7th SIMM-seminar was again be organised in London at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama for scholars interested in exchanging experiences, ideas and research findings on the role of music composition in social and community music projects and programmes (15-17.04.24).    

In 2024 the 8th SIMM-seminar was also organised in London at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama for scholars developing research on the practise of participatory opera and music theatre (9 to 11.09.24).    

In 2025 the 9th SIMM-seminar will be organised in Cologne at the contemporary music Ensemble MusikFabrik and will welcome scholars interested in exchanging experiences, ideas and research findings on the role of music composition in social and community music projects and programmes (9-11 May 2025), in collaboration with the Hochschule für Musik und Danz Köln.  

In 2025 the 10th SIMM-seminar will be organised in Darmstadt at the Darmstadt Hochschule Darmstadt for scholars developing research on the practise of participatory opera and music theatre (27-30 July 2025), in collaboration with the Darmstadt Summer Course.

In 2025 the 11th SIMM-seminar is planned in London at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama for scholars developing research on the role different arts (music, theatre, dance, visual arts, circus, design…) may play within the field of participatory arts projects (8-9 September 2025).

In 2026 the 12th SIMM-seminar will be organised in Brussels at the contemporary music ensemble Ictus and will welcome scholars interested in exchanging experiences, ideas and research findings on the role of music composition in social and community music projects and programmes (May 2025), in collaboration with the Chair Jonet.  

In 2026 a 2nd edition will be organised of a research seminar on music projects in detention contexts. This research seminar will be organised by the Chair Jonet in a close collaboration with different partners in Brussels or Flanders.

In 2026 at the Institute for Musicology and Arts of the University of Luxemburg a 2nd edition is organised of a SIMM research seminar for scholars developing research on the role different arts (music, theatre, dance, visual arts, circus, design…) may play within the field of participatory arts projects (7-8 September 2026).