The research centre SIMM (Social Impact of Making Music) of the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences of the Ghent University is created in 2017, and will start welcoming research-projects from 2018-2019 on. Artists, social workers, pedagogues, psychologists, political scientists as well as sociologists will be invited to propose research. We will be able to guide them thanks to the diverse expertise we can offer because of the association of different faculties involved.
Focus of the Research Centre
The possible social influence or impact of making music will be studied from the perspective of those who participate in the programs. Qualitative case studies and ethnographic research will be favoured in order to try to come to a better understanding of the possible influence of practicing music on people who are looking to enhance their social conditions.
The ambition of SIMM is thereby not to justify or proof the social utility of the art of music as such, but instead to come to a better understanding of the possible influence of practicing music for people who hope this will help them better their social position.
Two periods of seminars every year
All researchers of SIMM will have to be present in Ghent two periods of a few weeks per year (in March and in October). During those two periods they will receive an intensive program of seminars given by an international pool of guest speakers (practitioners and researchers).