Global artistic citizenship : (Re-)imagining interculturalism, collaboration, and community engagement as central elements of higher music education

Abstract

This article seeks to better understand the impacts of placing interculturalism and community engagement as central elements in higher music education and its effects on students’ experiences, learning outcomes, and societal contributions. Qualitative data is drawn from three contexts of intercultural learning environments, including graduates of a degree programme in global music, as well as current students participating in an intercultural arts camp and a refugee community project as part of their studies. Findings emerge in terms of the ways intercultural learning environments impact students’ sense of global artistic citizenship, develop extra-musical skills, provide opportunities to engage with societal issues, and expand professionalism, enhancing the ability to create a career and engage with the changing world. Key findings and conclusions point to the need to continuously re-imagine the structures of institutions and the ways they can become more inclusive, pluralistic, intercultural, and connected to the world around them.