Foundations|Arts and culture received the largest number of grants per round in the foundation’s history in May.
Jane and Aatos The Erko foundation has granted one million euros to the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts’ project promoting diversity in music and music education, according to the University of the Arts’ press release.
The four-year Voice and Justice – Music as a Promoter of Diversity project is said in the release to improve cultural justice in society through international cooperation. The project investigates the role and importance of music as an expression of cultural heritage and as a tool for social discussion.
The goal is to increase understanding of the perspectives, ownership and value of different cultures and cultural heritages, the dean of the Sibelius Academy Emilie Gardberg says in the announcement.
The Sibelius Academy cooperates with music universities in the United States and international experts, such as Chicago’s De Paul University and the California-based Gabrielino-Tongva tribe.
According to the release, in the projects students can, for example, examine the influence of indigenous peoples on the development of musical cultures in Europe and America or study jazz-based popular music as a means of communication for today’s youth.
A year in its second round in May, the Jane and Aatos Erko Foundation awarded the largest amount of grants per round in the history of the foundation to arts and culture, i.e. 3.9 million euros.
In addition to the Sibelius Academy project, the Soitinakatemiat ry (just over 1.2 million euros), Tanssi talo ryttu sr (one million euros) and the Finnish Conservatory Association received grants for two-year Music Education towards the 2030s – For the Future-proof educational institution culture project (660,000 euros).