The Bridge
Scottish Baroque Ensemble Ltd
Cooperation Projects
Scotland
2018
Total project grant (euros)
199,884.76
Sub-programme
Culture
Funding scheme
Creative Europe
Call number
EACEA 34/2018
Project date
1 Oct 2018 - 30 Sep 2020
Number of partners in project
3
Lead organisation
Scottish Baroque Ensemble, Scotland
Partners
Stiftelsen Trondheimsolistene, Norway
Ensemble Resonanz Gemeinnutzige Gesellschaft, Germany
Muusikute Taiendoppe Keskus, Estonia
THE BRIDGE addresses long-standing issues faced by European classical music culture.
Audiences are often homogenous. A profile can be hard to build in a world of consumer choice; and classical music is increasingly restricted by old-fashioned formats which alienate new and young audiences.
Four professional European music organisations (three string ensembles and one supporting organisation with expertise in festival/network management), are setting out to stimulate vital learning around these questions. Scottish Ensemble (UK), Ensemble Resonanz (Germany), Trondheim Soloists (Norway) and the PLMF Music Trust (Estonia) will collaborate to develop THE BRIDGE Network and Festival, using string orchestras and repertoire to develop and promote innovative practice in classical music presentation and audience development initiatives.
With flexible planning cycles and organisational structures, these string groups can adapt to new ideas more quickly than larger symphonic/chamber orchestras, and so provide a useful lens through which to explore and implement new ideas. Over one and half years, transnational musician and manager exchanges, mentoring, industry networking events, and an audience development project will generate learning. Then, in Scotland in 2020, a 3-day international festival will turn these ideas into live outputs – promoting THE BRIDGE’s partners and ideas through innovative performances, youth activities, participative audience development initiatives, and digital assets.
Reflecting project aims, THE BRIDGE will target under 30s, and those facing socio-economic challenges or isolation, as well as existing music audiences, educators, and artists. Feedback gathered from all of the above will inform evaluation, an end-of-project report and a short film. To ensure THE BRIDGE’s impact continues to grow, a String Ensembles Network will be inaugurated during a meeting at the Festival. Long-term, a biennial Festival in different EU countries would have even greater impact.



