Christopher Bylone van Sandwyk’s Post

What would Beethoven do today? Bonn is the place of birth and artistic development of Ludwig van Beethoven. This is were a great talent could turn into an iconic, genre-defining artist, whose work we still adore and cherish. But what would a super-talent like Beethoven create with music as an art form in todays world, with todays aesthetics and technologies? How can we create an environment for the development of contemporary music as a vital and world-embracing genre in the middle of society, not just some fringe and very-special-interest activity. In the spirit of Beethoven, music has to be both daringly contemporary and centered in emotional experience. How can we create an environment in Bonn, where such innovative ideas and talents can flourish, just as they did 250 years ago in Beethovens time? Our contemporary contribution to this question over at Beethovenfest Bonn is our new fellowship program, for which we just opened a call for submissions of ideas and projects. We think we can create a plattform for that groundbreaking big project and new idea of the Beethovens of today. Please share and apply :-)

Fact: A mediocre environment can never nurture classical music and art. An identity of a healthy and vibrant society is of that excel in classical music and art. Something to ponder on... Image: AI generated #society #healthysociety #culture

🎵 **How the Politics of the Gaza War Engulfed the Melbourne Symphony** 🎵 In a compelling intersection of culture and politics, recent events have spotlighted the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. The MSO has found itself at the center of a poignant debate, as an upcoming concert program featuring works by composers of diverse backgrounds has sparked significant controversy and discussion within the artistic community and beyond. The program, originally designed to celebrate musical diversity, includes pieces from both Israeli and Palestinian composers. This laudable intention, however, has collided with the highly charged political atmosphere surrounding the Gaza conflict. Critics argue that presenting both sides in this format could inadvertently equate the cultural products of an occupier and the occupied, potentially obfuscating the power dynamics and historical context of the conflict. This situation underscores the broader challenges faced by cultural institutions in navigating politically sensitive landscapes. The MSO's decision to proceed with the concert highlights their commitment to artistic expression and cultural dialogue, yet it also places them in a precarious position of balancing artistic integrity with political sensibilities. The orchestra has responded to the criticism by emphasizing their intent to foster understanding and empathy through music. For those in the arts and cultural management, this incident offers a profound case study on the intersection of art and politics. It raises essential questions about the role of cultural institutions in political discourse and the responsibilities they bear in representing complex and often contentious issues. The MSO's experience is a testament to the power of music as a universal language, capable of bridging divides, yet also reflecting the intricate and often painful realities of our world. 📌 *This summary is based on information from verified and reliable sources. We encourage you to explore the original article for a more comprehensive understanding of this intricate issue.* **Read more about it here:** [How the Politics of the Gaza War Engulfed the Melbourne Symphony](https://lnkd.in/gXaXqDYd)

Value infographic here ⬇️ Creativity = prosperity Creativity = change makers Creativity = cultural currency Read the report - support creativity - employ a design student 🙏 #saveoursubjects #NSEAD #highereducation #humancentereddesign

Opera Europa is deeply shocked and gravely concerned by the abrupt decision on August 6th by Slovakia’s culture minister, Martina Šimkovičová, to dismiss Matej Drlička as General Manager of the Slovenské národné divadlo Slovak National Theatre. Matej Drlička has been a prominent #advocate for the arts in Slovakia, passionately promoting Slovak works to broad audiences while fostering and nurturing the next generation of artists and audiences and gaining international recognition for his work. This decision, alongside the dismissal of other cultural leaders, signals a troubling threat to #artisticfreedom in Slovakia. Article 13 of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) states that “The arts and scientific research shall be free of constraint.” Furthermore, the Council of Europe’s Manifesto on the Freedom of Expression of Arts and Culture in the Digital Era highlights that “Arts and culture emphasise, express, communicate, and anticipate the human reaction to social changes… Creativity and diverse cultural expressions, enabled and stimulated by artistic freedom of expression, are catalysts for sustainable development planning and policies.” Minister Šimkovičová’s political decisions clearly violate the European Union’s charter. The widespread public backlash against this right-wing attack on artistic freedom, alongside the broader criticism of the Slovak government’s efforts to stifle dissenting voices, demonstrates that the official reason for Matej Drlička’s dismissal—claiming he “confused the position of general director of a national cultural institution with political activism and repeatedly brought politics into the activities of the SND”—is rejected by many Slovakians, European cultural institutions, politicians, and the media. At Opera Europa, we also firmly reject the stated rationale for Matej Drlička’s dismissal. We stand by him in his fight against this instance of extreme right-wing cultural vandalism and urge the European Union to closely monitor developments in Slovakia and safeguard the independence and #freedomofexpression of cultural institutions across Europe. Karen Stone Director Opera Europa

Innovations in Arts & Culture In a time when STEM's role as a professional and economic holy grail are exalted, the forgotten piece the "A," that is Arts -- plays a giant sized role in making us wholesome and skillful human beings. Thus what we need is just not stem, but STEAM. To innovate, create, for Mental Health and to Flourish. The above is highlighted by the artists that have conceived the musical vision below: "Spread across four stages, the concerts mark musical visions of America's future ahead of its 250th anniversary in 2026. They highlight steps in a musician's journey: To Begin (their pursuit), To Believe (in their dream), To Become (what they envision) and To Be (a working musician). The centerpiece is a new piece by Angélica Negrón that incorporates everyday sounds recorded and shared by people all over the country." Without Arts to engage the spirit & soul, the entire workforce would be reduced to thinking and working like a fixed programmatic machine agent.

Exploring the power of social consciousness in the arts is essential. Artists can inspire change in their communities through meaningful expression. 🌟🎨 Discover how music bridges classical and contemporary styles, fostering community and social impact. #ArtForChange #MusicMatters #passaggio #passaggiomusic

21.05.2024 | 9:00 pm | Eschschloraque   Bande á Part Tanzbare Veranstaltung für Außenseiter   presents   “WHAT IF LIVING WAS JUST KILLING TIME” by G I A D A G R I E C O (dance) and A S E R E T (music)   „The  p i e c e  comes from reflections and a deep sense of emptiness and fullness. We exist in this reality without having to do anything. Either the members of our family or the people who used to surround us since the moment we were born, are the first examples on how to be part of a life routine.  We learn everything from scratch observing what is around us, we receive an education based on the culture where we were raised in and we think everything reflects the way we were taught to do. Institutions give us knowledge and our crossed paths with others give us a sense of community. What we experience as mistakes give us wisdom and adventures make us marvel. But what if we arrive at one point when we have built everything that we thought we wanted and we fulfilled the desires of the ones we care for and we also took decisions that made us proud of ourselves but then in the end we happen to have a glimpse of deep consciousness and we realize something else. WHAT IF LIVING WAS JUST KILLING TIME is a touching and somehow hydronic way of wasting time, on deciding how to use the time we received as a gift.  As I am doing right now, writing this. And you are doing so, reading it. So, as an artist, I choose to dance this unchangeable imaginary timeline. My will is to waste seconds, minutes and maybe hours honoring movement and the life I was given with it, celebrating the unknown and laughing about it but also mourning it. I consciously take the decision of being present in this eternal dilemma we constantly fill with duties and appointments, avoiding thinking about the purpose of existence. There is no sense in what we do unless it has some meaning for us.“ Photo: Lucia Imparato Art installation on the wall: Luca Cuccurullo

🎼🌍 In this year marking the bicentenary of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, we are proud to share an inspiring initiative from the members of the pan-European network of Houses and Museums of European Musicians HMEM), initiated by the Centre Européen de Musique. This network, with Europa Nostra as a principal partner, launches a solemn call to all European citizens: "Use your vote for Peace! Use your vote for Solidarity! Use your vote for Europe!". Adopted by all the members of the HMEM network, this call highlights the crucial importance of participating in the European elections and supporting the fundamental values of peace, solidarity, and unity that lie at the heart of the European project. On May 8, 2024, during the annual meeting in Wuppertal, Germany, the HMEM members celebrated the bicentenary of the premiere of Beethoven's 9th Symphony together. The special concert on May 7, 2024, was a highlight of celebration and reflection, illustrating the unifying power of music. The HMEM network brings together prestigious institutions such as the Beethoven-Haus Bonn in Germany, the Amália Rodrigues Foundation in Portugal, the Franz Liszt Museum in Hungary, and many others. This diversity testifies to the richness and diversity of European musical heritage. We are also proud of our partnerships with prestigious projects like the European Heritage Hub an EU-funded pilot project led by Europa Nostra. The Centre Européen de Musique is the only organization representing the intangible heritage of music. These collaborations strengthen our efforts to promote music as a vector for social cohesion and intercultural dialogue. More info : https://lnkd.in/ehh6tTkX #EuropaNostra #MMME #VoteForPeace #VoteForSolidarity #VoteForEurope #EuropeanMusic #CohesionThroughMusic #InterculturalDialogue

How prestigious do they get? Very well done.