Signature projects

Sustainable futures

Sustainable futures for music cultures: Towards an ecology of music diversity is an Australia Research Council-funded project that aims to forge new pathways towards preserving viable musical practices for posterity. The research, an initiative of Queensland Conservatorium Research Centre, will include in-depth study into selected musical traditions - not only for their history and present musical characteristics, but also for their potential to recontextualise in contemporary contexts.

The project will deliver a model to assist music cultures across the world to preserve their intangible cultural heritage. The project is being developed and implemented in close partnership with the International Music Council/ UNESCO and the Music Council of Australia. For more information, please download the Sustainable Futures brochure (PDF 0.5MB), or visit the project website.

Sound links

Sound links: Exploring the dynamics of musical communities in Australia, and their potential for informing collaboration with music in schools is an Australian Research Council funded project (2007-2008) that examined the dynamics of community music in Australia. Focusing on six vibrant musical communities across the country, the project studied the models such practices represent for informal music learning and teaching, and explored their potential for synergy with music in schools.

Sound links yielded a wealth of insights into various perceptions of the nature of community and community music initiatives across Australia, showing that a dynamic culture of community music-making can be found throughout the country. The final report offers a number of important recommendations for local communities, schools and music education programs, as well as the music industry. For more information, download the Sound links brochure (PDF 1.1MB), or go to our resources page for more about the final report.

Major partners in this project were the Music Council of Australia, the Australian Music Association, and the Australian Society for Music Education. Its research team included Professor Huib Schippers and Research Fellow Dr Brydie-Leigh Bartleet, as well as Associate Professor Peter Dunbar-Hall (University of Sydney) and Dr Richard Letts (Music Council of Australia).

Redefining places for art

Redefining places for art is a project funded by the Australia Research Council that examines the dynamics of location in experiencing art in contemporary Australia.

In the current stage of research (late-2009), data collection is almost completed, examining major trends in audience numbers, policies and funding arrangements, in order to gauge the present dynamics and future potential of established mainstream cultural venues and alternative emerging spaces.

The project is being realised in close collaboration with Arts Queensland and Australia Council for the Arts. The research team is led by Professor Huib Schippers, and includes Research Fellow Dr Helen Lancaster.

Groundwork for the project began in November 2004 with a forum bringing together cultural industry leaders to identify key issues in the urban dynamics of cultural spaces in Brisbane, and by implication in other major cities across the world. These discussions resulted in the QCRC publication 'A Place for Art: The Dynamics of Location in Urban Artistic Identity'.

Digital Arts @ Griffith

Digital Arts @ Griffith is an ongoing research project that includes film-makers, musicians, photographers, designers, cyber-artists and other academics who may be considered 'digital natives'. Their work is created, measured and disseminated in the digital environment, through a range of media publication outcomes including CD, DVD, public broadcasting mechanisms (including film, television and radio), and more recently, via technologies including cell-phones, iPods, and the internet.

The project is being developed and realised through the work of IMERSD in professional Music CD productions, podcasts, and innovative on-line publishing mechanisms such as IMERSD Stream. External collaborators include the Queensland College of Art, the Centre for Public Culture and Ideas, Griffith Research Computing Services and the Apple University Consortium.