[Commlist] cfp: “Rethinking music heritage”

Rethinking music heritage

University of the Arts Helsinki, Finland, 15–17 October 2025.

Call for presentations

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.

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 /at/ 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. For further 
information, please contact (music.heritage /at/ uniarts.fi).

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.


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