2024 starts with a bit of long-awaited good news that the United Kingdom intends to finally sign the 2003 UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention. Once ratified, we will join a large community of 182 other nation states around the world who have formally recognized their 'intangible' cultural heritage. What does this mean? 'Intangible' means cultural … Continue reading UK signing UNESCO ICH convention…
KEYNOTE: 20-21st October, INET-md/ FCSH-Nova conference
I'm delighted to have been invited to deliver a keynote address at the INET-md/ FCSH-Nova online conference this October. More information available here. Here is my abstract Keynote: ‘Your music is not my music’: methods and approaches to traditional music in the digital age. Abstract In this paper I turn outwards to answer a question … Continue reading KEYNOTE: 20-21st October, INET-md/ FCSH-Nova conference
MeCCSA Conference Overview 4-6th September 2023
Here is the draft schedule overview for the MeCCSA 2023 conference we are hosting at Glasgow Caledonian University this September--exciting! All the info is here: https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/academicschools/gsbs/aboutus/departments/mediajournalism/MECCSA2023
NEW REPORT: The Effects of Covid on the Scottish Traditional Arts
I'm delighted to say that over the past year or so, Dr Jasmine Hornabrook and I have been researching a major report on the effects of Covid on Scottish traditional arts (traditional music, dance, drama and crafts). Please circulate widely--a huge thanks to Catriona Hawksworth and everyone at Creative Scotland for commissioning this and to … Continue reading NEW REPORT: The Effects of Covid on the Scottish Traditional Arts
Evidence to Scottish Parliament Committee 23rd Feb 2023
Alongside Finlay MacDonald and Tommy Smith, I'll be giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament Committee on Constitution, External Affairs and Culture on the impact of the proposed BBC Scotland cuts to niche music programming: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/meetings/2023/ceeacs6236/agenda
Music in the Rural Creative Economy Final Report PUBLISHED December 2022
With many thanks to everyone who contributed, and particularly to online debate panellists, interviewees and all the members and leadership of The Touring Network, please find the final report here for the Music in the Rural Creative Economy research project. music-in-the-rural-creative-economy-final-report-mckerrell-2022Download
Register here for Report Launch event: Music in the Rural Creative Economy, Inverness, Monday 5th December
[Image Credit: Ion Chibzii wikimedia Commons share and share alike licence] As my AHRC-funded Leadership Fellowship draws to a close (thank you UKRI!) I am still working away on drawing together the findings from more than 70 interviews with musicians, festival and venue organisers, police, local authority civil servants, music teachers, charity execs, luthiers and … Continue reading Register here for Report Launch event: Music in the Rural Creative Economy, Inverness, Monday 5th December
The Impact of Covid on Scottish Traditional Arts
Alongside Dr Jasmine Hornabrook, I have been conducting an impact study on the effects of Covid on Scottish traditional arts. The report will be published shortly by Creative Scotland. However, here is a video of the talk I gave as keynote at the Traditional Music Forum's annual meeting day at Perth Museum on the 1st … Continue reading The Impact of Covid on Scottish Traditional Arts
Call for papers: Representing the Body: Contemporary media Discourse and the real
Call for Papers Representing The Body: Contemporary Media Discourse and The Real Symposium Friday 28th April 2023 Venue: Glasgow Caledonian University Deadline for abstracts: 16th December 2022 Please consider submitting a paper or roundtable proposal for our one-day symposium to be held at Glasgow Caledonian University focused upon ‘The Body: Contemporary Media Discourse and The … Continue reading Call for papers: Representing the Body: Contemporary media Discourse and the real
Traditional Music at a time of Crisis: Where do we go from here? 1st October keynote
I'm delighted to be delivering the keynote address to the Trad Talk 2022 Traditional Music Forum at Perth Museum on Saturday 1st October entitled: Where Do We Go From Here? Traditional Music in a Time of Crisis Please circulate and feel free to sign up (gratis) here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/trad-talk-2022-tickets-415883517797
Simon McKerrell 