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Will be updated soon
Abstract
As one of approximately 350 Chinese opera genres, Cantonese opera was inscribed on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. Like other forms of intangible cultural heritage, Cantonese opera has faced growing challenges in sustaining its presence in Hong Kong. This presentation first outlines the historical development of Cantonese opera in Hong Kong. It then reviews key findings from related studies conducted by the speaker to address these challenges. The presentation concludes with implications and considerations for future preservation and development.
Heritage activism as pathway to sustainable development: The story of Kutumba
Dr Vilma Timonen
Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts, Helsinki, Finland
Arun Gurung, Pavit Maharjan, Arun Manandhar
Kutumba, Nepal
Abstract
This keynote explores heritage activism as a pathway toward sustainable development through music education, focusing on the work of the Nepalese ensemble Kutumba. Drawing on an ecological approach to heritage, the study conceptualises intangible cultural music heritage not as a fixed entity but as a dynamic and collective process shaped by ongoing interactions among individuals, communities, and their environments. This perspective emphasises the potential of heritage to address contemporary global challenges, including sustainability, social justice, and cultural continuity.
The presentation examines Kutumba’s 20 years’ work in music as a form of heritage activism, highlighting how the ensemble operates as a pioneer in Nepal’s music scene. As first-generation professional musicians, Kutumba engages in public pedagogy by bringing traditional Nepalese music into new contexts and audiences. Their work demonstrates how heritage-based artistic practice can contribute to economic viability, cultural sustainability, peacebuilding, and environmental awareness.
Through this case, the presentation illustrates how heritage activism in music can foster sustainable futures by bridging tradition and innovation. It argues that publicly oriented music education, when rooted in sustainability thinking and connected to local musical heritage, can be a powerful driver of social change. In this way, communities are empowered to actively shape their own cultural identities and paths of development.
The keynote is conducted as dialogical discussion among Dr Vilma Timonen and founding members of Kutumba, followed by music performance of Kutumba.
Today’s rapidly transforming world raises an important question: how can traditional art forms, especially music, not merely survive but truly thrive? This keynote by Vidya Subramanian explores how Indian classical systems, particularly Carnatic music, can offer powerful frameworks for building sustainable, inclusive, and scalable music education ecosystems.
Rooted in the Guru–Shishya parampara, Carnatic pedagogy has historically ensured depth, continuity, and cultural integrity. Yet, its traditional modes—highly individualized, location-bound, and time-intensive – have also limited access. Today, digital transformation presents an unprecedented opportunity to expand reach without necessarily diluting artistic rigor. Research shows that hybrid and online models can significantly enhance accessibility, affordability, and learner engagement while preserving quality when thoughtfully designed.
Drawing from the journey of Vidya Subramanian Academy (VSA), this keynote by its founder examines how technology-enabled, community-driven models can democratize access to high-quality music education across geographies. It highlights how structured curricula, teacher training ecosystems, and distributed teaching networks can enable scale with both integrity and customization. Importantly, it also reflects on the role of educators as cultural stewards—balancing innovation with authenticity.
The keynote further addresses inclusion: designing pedagogies that accommodate diverse learners, enabling women educators to build meaningful careers that encourage micro-entrepreneurship while offering flexibility, and creating culturally responsive global classrooms. It underscores that sustainability is not merely environmental or economic—it is cultural, educational, and human. Finally, the talk looks ahead: what might music education in South Asia look like 20 years from now? How can tradition coexist with technology, and how can music educators shape more equitable, connected societies?
This keynote invites educators, institutions, and policymakers to rethink music education not merely as a system to preserve, but as a living ecosystem that all of us can shape, reimagine, and help succeed.