The Gustav Mahler Private University of Music is hosting a major international event of the Horizon Europe project dialoguing@rts. From 15-17 October 2026 Klagenfurt will be the host of a wide range of talks, roundtables, artistic interventions in unexpected places around the famous Wörthersee. The event is part of the project’s work package 3 „Ethnographies in dialogue: Case studies of arts education practice“ led by the University of Cologne (Institute for European Ethnomusicology) which focuses on best practices across Europe, promoting cultural literacy and enhancing social inclusion.

Cultural experts, policy-makers, musicians, researchers and representatives of major international organizations such as the UNESCO, the Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Academies de Musique et Musikhochschulen (AEC)  and the European Music Council (EMC) will join forces 12wto discuss how music and the performing arts can become a driver for social change and social justice in our societies with a broad European perspective.

Interdisciplinary discourse between the realms of music education, ethnomusicology, sound studies, dance studies, educational sciences, sociology, anthropology and heritage studies, complemented by artistic interventions, workshops and soundwalks providing real-life insights into the agency of dialogical arts education. Best practices will be presented and discussed by consortium members from Serbia, Italy, Germany, Norway. The Klagenfurt-based transcultural formation (Re)Shape will be the project ensemble.

Confirmed speakers and artists:

  • Rose Martin (Dean, Faculty of Education and Arts, NORD University, Norway)
  • Christian Rolle (Professor of Music Education, University of Cologne, Germany)
  • Karen Asatrian (composer, pianist and researcher, GMPU/mdw Vienna/Yerevan, Austria/Armenia)
  • Jens Knigge (Professor of Music Education, NORD University, Norway)
  • Jasmin Donlic (Ass. Prof. in Global Citizenship Education, University Klagenfurt, Austria)
  • Runa Hestad Jenssen (Faculty of Education and Arts, NORD University, Norway)
  • Marita Helen Hansen (Kulturskolerådet/Council of Cultural Education, Trondheim, Norway)
  • Finn Schumacker (AEC Executive Director, Belgium)

Contact

dialoguing.arts@gmpu.ac.at

More details coming soon!

About d@rts

d@rts (dialoguing@rts) is a Horizon Europe project exploring how performing arts education can foster cultural literacy, dialogue, and social inclusion. Through research, participatory workshops, and digital tools, it engages diverse communities and educators to create inclusive arts practices. 

AEC’s role in d@rts

The Association Européenne des Conservatoires (AEC) is a central partner in the d@rts (dialoguing@rts) project, heading Work Package 8, which addresses communication, dissemination, and the application of research outcomes. AEC manages the project’s visual identity, website and social media channels and contributes to the design of the project’s outreach events.