About Visually Inclusive Choirs

Objectives of the project

General Objective

The objective of the project of strengthening capacities of blind and visually impaired choir singers is in line with the

EU Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030,

namely its point 5 that invites Member States to promote and encourage arts of persons with disabilities and raise awareness making them visible through exhibitions and performances.

Specific Objective

VIC shall involve 3 cultural organisations experience in working choir singers, among which there is knowledge how to work with blind and visually impaired choir

Through a 2 years lasting project 2 rounds of exchanges,

workshops, practicing and pedagogic residencies in Tirana, Karditsa and Strasbourg involving a total of 36 choir singers, where half of them will be blind and visually impaired choir singers (6 per partner or 18 per year or 36 for both years)

Final beneficiaries

Visually impaired and sighted singers in choirs (36 persons)

Choir conductors at beginning of career and project consortium partners (app 200 persons)

Local communities (both authorities and CSOs) in ALB/GRE/FRA, music professionals, institutions and associations dealing with visually impaired population, citizens and youth, especially visually impaired ones in targeted cities/countries and general population (app 500.000 persons).

Outcomes

  • Increased international mobility and intercultural knowledge of blind and visually impaired choir singers from FRA/ALB/GRE.

  • Choir conductors capacities strengthened to work with blind and visually impaired singers and promote new, attractive and inclusive choir performances.

  • Cultural/education structures in targeted areas sensitized in including more blind and visually impaired choir singers in their activity programmes.

  • Increased awareness and support of citizens for using music as tool for building culturally diverse and socially inclusive community.

Target groups

Direct target groups

Direct target groups are visually impaired and sighted choir singers in choirs, either in educational and cultural institutions or out of them, choir conductors at beginning of career and project consortium partners (app 200 persons).

Indirect target groups

Indirect target groups are local communities (both authorities and CSOs) in ALB/GRE/FRA, music professionals, institutions and associations dealing with visually impaired population, citizens and youth, especially visually impaired ones in targeted cities/countries and general population (app 500.000 persons).

Project outputs

  • 36 blind/visually impaired and sighted choir singers from FRA/GRE/ALB strengthened on understanding of culture as a vehicle of change in the society.

  • 36 blind/visually impaired and sighted choir singers from FRA/GRE/ALB jointly performed at 3 choir festivals in Strasbourg, Karditsa and Tirana.

  • 6 music exchanges conducted.

  • 6 artistic and educational residencies conducted.

  • 3 capacity-building training seminars for project consortium partners upon one of the predefined topics during the exchanges of choir singers.

  • 3 training seminars involving app 15-30 choirs conductors from ALB/FRA/GRE conducted.

  • 2 Intl Days of Music and World Sight Days events held in 3 countries simultaneously.

  • 1 joint internet platform launched linked with social media.

  • 3 “behind the scene” 10-min video documentaries produced and aired.

  • 1 Inclusive Choir Network established and developed by the 3 partnered music operators.

  • 6 public discussions held on topics relevant for inclusive choir activities and role in the community.

  • 2 video compilations/albums with “live” recordings of performances held in targeted countries, International Day of Music, World Sight Day and partnered choir festivals in 2023.