Internationalisation has become a "loose signifier", a term that can be made to mean everything that vaguely crosses borders for a variety of reasons. Developing music export has been somewhat of a trendy concept over the past decade, fitting in suitably in the broader creative industries discourse, seeking to raise export revenues in the aggregate. On the other hand, more traditional concepts of cultural diplomacy and international cultural relations have perhaps renewed relevance in today's world where soft power might become hot goods in the coming days and years.
Where does that leave the artist and the music entrepreneur? Those that are seeking to find audiences in other countries to build their careers and businesses for their own sake? In this intersection of various interests and limited means, can policy, whether diplomatically, culturally, or economically motivated, serve the music community well?
This session begins with a brief presentation of a new Estonian research project into the conceptualisation of internationalisation, as various policy goals and mindsets of music artists and professionals, and then grows into an open discussion.
Presented and moderated by
- Virgo Sillamaa, Music policy researcher at EMEE / Erasmus University Rotterdam
- Maria Pirkkalainen-Barber, Internationalisation Expert for Arts Promotion Centre Finland