for-Wards: Curating a Hyperlocal Compositional Methodological Framework
- Submitting institution
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Birmingham City University
- Unit of assessment
- 33 - Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies
- Output identifier
- 33Z_OP_J2094
- Type
- J - Composition
- Month
- -
- Year
- 2020
- URL
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https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/892460/892712
- Supplementary information
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- Request cross-referral to
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- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
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- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- No
- Number of additional authors
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- Research group(s)
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- Proposed double-weighted
- No
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- No
- Additional information
- _for-Wards: Curating a Hyperlocal Compositional Methodological Framework_ is a Research Catalogue exposition documenting the curatorial methods devised by Bobbie-Jane Gardner for the research project _for-Wards_. This two-year citywide music programme (2016-18), a large-scale ‘musical ode to Birmingham’, adapted the idea of ‘hyperlocality’ from citizen journalism into a compositional framework (‘hyperlocal’ describing highly localised media or cultural activity), working with communities on compositional projects reflecting the cultural identities of individual localities in Birmingham. Applying the concept of the ‘hyperlocal’ to contemporary musical practice was a novel undertaking on this scale.
In _for-Wards_ Gardner worked alongside nine other Birmingham composers selected by nine Birmingham artistic partners to collaborate with forty community groups from each of Birmingham’s forty electoral wards. The resulting collaboration involved 837 participants, made up of young mums, school children, amateur poets, community garden volunteers, golf enthusiasts and residential home tenants, to co-create ten bespoke musical works informed by people and place. The Research Catalogue exposition provides extensive documentation of the methodology, each of the constituent parts of the project, field recordings and the various outcomes in terms of community engagement and performance of the musical works. ‘Bournville Chimes’, a work devised by Gardner with residents of Selly Oak is used as a case study demonstrating the process of collaborative compositional work undertaken in a hyperlocal curated environment.
_for-Wards_ received £160k in funding, notably from Arts Council England (£89k), Royal Birmingham Conservatoire/Birmingham City University (£35k) and Birmingham City Council (£12k). The project, reached an audience of 42,297 (live and online), attracted extensive media coverage and engaged high-profile musicians such as Xhosa Cole, who won BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2018 final performing his co-created _for-Wards_ commission.
- Author contribution statement
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- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
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