ELNA: Equality Library for Nordic Art music
The art music repertoire today is dominated by historical male composers from Central Europe.
The representation of women composers
KVAST wants to create a database for music by Nordic female composers to increase gender equality in art music. Since the pandemic years, KVAST has noted a decline in the representation of women in Swedish scenes for art music. When public figures argue in favour of a national cultural canon, it is more important than ever to draw attention to art created by non-males and to stop cementing the unequal historiography. In modern democracies all voices must be heard equally!
Through ELNA (Equality Library for Nordic Art music), KVAST will, supported by the grant from Signatur, make available, unveil and highlight Nordic women composers and their works. In addition to collaborating with several orchestras and programme directors, KVAST also wants this knowledge to be shared with younger age groups. Therefore, all works included in ELNA will be graded according to difficulty and there will be co-operation with music education programmes for children.
A flagship in the Nordic gender equality fleet.
ELNA stimulates critical thinking by showcasing the wealth of works by women composers and at the same time raises the question of whether equal programming of music is a prerequisite for a truly equal society.
KVAST wants to strengthen the driving force of women/non-binary people to speak up, take their place and be heard in democratic forums and on the music stages. The organisation works continuously to broaden its network and has working groups and partners in Norway, Denmark and Finland who all strive to make this project a flagship in the Nordic gender equality fleet.
About KVAST
KVAST is a non-profit organisation whose main aim is to increase awareness and performance of musical works composed by women composers. Equality on the music scene – for democracy and good art.
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