The Jonet Chair on Social Action and Music Making

INTRODUCTION

More than ever, the world needs societies that embrace diversity, inclusion and equality. Music and music making have proven time and again to be a powerful tool that can be used to promote such humanistic values, bring hope and encourage determination.

The Jonet [1] Chair on Social Action & Music Making has been established at Ghent University (UGent) and Hogeschool Gent (HOGENT) since October 2022. It aims to explore the diverse field of socially engaged music practices and contribute to the further development of music practices that use the empowering nature of music making to generate social impact and contribute to a society that values and promotes diversity, inclusiveness and equality.

Additionally, and building on this research, the chair will contribute to the training and professional growth of musicians and cultural workers who want to make music and facilitate social action.

[1] The title of the chair is named after Martine Jonet, president of the Fondation Futur 21 (first sponsor of the chair).

OBJECTIVES

The chair meets not only a growing need for more in-depth research, but also for high-quality and sustainable training in the field of music making and social action. Indeed, despite the emergence of many social music projects in recent years, both nationally and internationally, and despite an ever-growing number of musicians and cultural workers wishing to be active in this field, this need is pertinent with a view to advancing this field.

To organise and facilitate these activities, the chair establishes the Centre for Social Action and Music Making (CESAMM). As there is currently no research and training centre dedicated to this domain, this centre will occupy a unique position in the world.

The spearhead of CESAMM is the synergy between research and practice through intensive cooperation between scientists and practitioners, between art and science and between research and artistic-educational initiatives.

SCHENKER(S)

The creation of the Jonet Chair was made possible thanks to the financial support of 2 main sponsors - the VGP Foundation and the Fondation Futur 21 - and of 7 major music centres, which will also take on the role of 'hubs' by bringing together practitioners of social and community music projects in their regions: Brussels Philharmonic, deSingel, Concertgebouw Brugge, De Centrale, Handelsbeurs, Musica and the Klara Festival.

PERIOD

2022-2026

PROMOTOR

Promotor of the chair is Prof. dr Francis Maes, professor of musicology at Ghent University and senior lecturer at the Department of Arts, Music and Theatre Studies.

TITULARIS

The first chair holder is Prof dr Lukas Pairon, founder of the research network SIMM and Music Fund, and co-founder of the music ensemble Ictus. Dr An De Bisschop will be chair holder from 2024. Prof Luc Nijs will remain closely associated with the chair as guest professor. In 2023, Filip Verneert will join the team as a postdoctoral researcher.