Play it Loud! Erasmus Project

Project Title

Play it Loud!

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Partnerships for Creativity

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Creativity and culture; Gender equality / equal opportunities; Inclusion – equity

Project Summary

Gender equality is a fundamental human right but the music and the cultural sector still struggle to meaningfully foster an environment where women and people who identify as non- binary or members of the LGBTIQ+ community feel equal. Everywhere in the world, adolescents easily fall into established gender roles, even when it comes to music: girls primarily sing, while boys play instruments or do technical tasks. These stereotypes are reflected as severe gender gaps and imbalances in the music-making industry: in Europe, women represent 20% or less of registered composers/songwriters, on average earn 30% less than men working within the music sector, composed only 2.3% of works performed at concerts and own only 15% of record labels. This creates an iterative cycle that further drives the existing stereotypes and cultural norms deeply in the social structure. Discriminations, unfortunately, commonplace in the cultural sectors, risks to be exacerbated by the age and gender-related impacts of COVID-19. The global pandemic, however, presents opportunities to change and co-create the “new normal” in an inclusive and transformational way. To ensure this, the voices of young women and non-binary youth (in all their diversities) need to be amplified and heard and that the Youth & Music sector (and indirectly the whole Cultural field) needs taking an intersectional lens to dismantle those gendered norms prevalent across Europe and set from an early age.

Hence, the project aims to contribute to a more equal and diverse youth & music sector, welcoming all underrepresented youth to express themselves, take ownership, express freely through music and participate actively in local and European democratic and civic spaces, thus contributing to shape a more inclusive society. The SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES are:
(SO1) To amplify the voices of young girls and underrepresented youth through engagement in music-making and free creative expression
(SO2) To enhance the meaningful participation of underrepresented youth by promoting their creativity and their freedom of expression, as well as building their personal and professional competences
(SO3) To enable underrepresented youth to play active roles in society by providing opportunities for social and civic engagement and intercultural dialogue across Europe
(SO4) To foster gender mainstreaming, equality and inclusive, safe environments in the youth & music sector, by building the capacities of its key stakeholders (organizations, trainers, facilitators, youth workers, youth)

“Play it Loud!” uses music and creative expression to engage and empower those young people who experience or have experienced discrimination because of their gender identity and expression, empowering them to challenge inequalities, care for each other better, work in solidarity, learn together and advocate for their rights.

The direct beneficiaries of the project (from Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Hungary, North Macedonia, Cyprus & France), are 8 experts active in the youth & music sector and with complementary expertise; 16 youth workers (etc.) of partner organizations; approx. 1600 young people and representatives of the local communities; approx. 50 key stakeholders engaged at the local, national and European/global level.

The project includes the following activities: 2 transnational partners meetings; 1 Experts Meeting (NO); 1 Training course (FR); 8 Multiplier events and 1 final international symposium (HU); Local piloting activities (grassroots level); 1 Youth Exchange (CY); at least 7 artistic and Cultural actions for a “glocal” advocacy campaign. The activities lead to the production of the following physical outputs: 1. Research Study; 2. Pedagogical strategy (recommendations & guidelines); 3. practical Checklist & Toolkit; 4. Set of Artistic and Cultural Activities; 5. Final documentary.

The key methodologies applied throughout the project are social research and appreciative inquiry approach; participatory, non-formal and peer-to-peer learning; innovative design thinking and 5D appreciation methods; youth-led, youth-centred and needs-based approaches; human-rights based perspectives.

Impacts and long-term benefits are:
– The competencies of youth workers and partner organizations are strengthened
– Young beneficiaries engage and creatively express themselves to make their voices heard “out loud”
– Young people and youth workers build their personal and professional capacities
– JM Network starts an internal revision process to make its music and educational programs more gender-aware and inclusive
– A JMI Experts Pool on Gender Mainstreaming and Freedom of Expression is created to promote the envisioned change within JMI network/activities
– JM International & IMC strengthen role as an advocate for gender equality and freedom of expression in the Youth & Music sector
– Key stakeholders at all levels are engaged to initiate a structural and systemic change to dismantle gender-based stereotypes

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 131151 Eur

Project Coordinator

SECRETARIAT DE JEUNESSES MUSICALESINTERNATIONAL & Country: BE

Project Partners

• Jeunesses Musicales Hungary Egyesület
• MUSICAL YOUTH ASSOCIATION OF MACEDONIA SKOPJE
• Euro-Arab Youth Music Center E.A.Y.M.C
• CONSEIL INTERNATIONAL DE LA MUSIQUE ASSOCIATION
• Nationale federatie van Jeugd en Muziek België
• Songlines Vänner
• JM Norway