The 10th SIMM-posium will be hosted by the academic Chair Jonet of the University of Ghent, in a close collaboration with the international research platform SIMM (Social Impact of Music Making).
Building on the previous SIMM-posia in Ghent, London, Porto, Bogota, Brussels, Paris, London, Brisbane (and the promising upcoming one in Copenhagen), the 2025 Brussels SIMM-posium will feature presentations, thematic panels and keynotes, exploring the social impact of participatory music-making across a wide range of cultural contexts.
Delegates are warmly encouraged to join in person in Brussels (location to be decided), even though online presentations will also be accommodated where necessary, and the event will be live-streamed.
There is provision in the programme for up to about 40 brief (10 minute) presentations of academic as well as artistic research, research-related work in progress or critical reflections on research, which are curated into thematic panels and followed by plenary discussions. Artistic and creative research methods are welcomed alongside presentations of community-centred empirical theoretical or methodological inquiry.
Keynote speaker will be Professor Lee Higgins, director of the International Centre for Community Music, York St John University.
Presentations of research will be welcomed which try to help us come to a better understanding of the possible role of the practice of music-making within social and community music projects and programmes. Specific topics of interest of this conference will be communicated later on.
About SIMM: SIMM is the international network of researchers and organisations examining possible social impacts of music-making across a wide range of cultural contexts. Founded in 2015 it has grown to encompass a number of events, including research conferences, research seminars, international comparative research projects, podcasts and publications.
This will be the second time a SIMM-posium will be organised in the city of Brussels, because the 5th SIMM-posium was also held there at Bozar in 2021.
Call for participants:
Expressions of interest to present research should no later than 15th April 2025 be sent by email to Lukas Pairon (lukas.pairon@simm-platform.eu). This should include name, institutional affiliation, current professional role(s) and a 250 word statement of relevant professional experience and background (why you wish to attend this symposium). You should additionally include a title and a 200 word abstract of the presentation of your research.
Participants may also organize panel sessions that make a distinctive and creative contribution to the SIMM-posium. In that case the maximum time allowed will be 90 minutes, consisting of up to six 10-minute presentations and a 30-minute discussion. One of the speakers should be nominated as a convenor, who will make the submission on behalf of the other speakers, including a 250-word description of the rationale and content of the panel session and a 200 word abstract for each participant’s presentation.
Successful applicants will be notified no later than 31 May 2025, and will then be invited to register.
