ESHCC researcher Ellen Loots is part of a team of European educators and researchers who have recently been recognized by the Society for Arts Entrepreneurship Education (SAEE) with the prestigious Sharon T. Alpi Award for Innovative Arts Entrepreneurship Pedagogy. They received the award for their pedagogical innovation called “The Self-Curating Musician (SeCuM).”
Supported by the European Commission's ‘Music Moves Europe’ program, SeCuM is an innovative teaching method developed to transform classical music education by focusing on “self-curation” as a form of entrepreneurship. This approach connects formal education with the professional world through a “mindset-centered” pedagogy combined with technical training, using Systemic Design Thinking to create an immersive learning experience. SeCuM enables young musicians to harness their creativity, develop a personal narrative, and engage with communities, addressing the dual pressures of achieving artistic excellence and navigating the job market. By promoting a holistic, community-oriented approach, SeCuM redefines entrepreneurial practices in classical music.
“The Sharon T. Alpi Award stands as the highest accolade within the field of Arts Entrepreneurship, honoring transformative pedagogical innovations that are both impactful and transferable,” says SAEE President Jim Hart. “We are delighted to confer the award to this group of educators for their groundbreaking approach. Innovative educational models like SeCuM enrich our academic landscape and cultivate an environment where creativity and entrepreneurship flourish. The Alpi Award highlights SAEE’s unwavering commitment to advancing arts entrepreneurship education, empowering the next generation of arts entrepreneurs to make significant societal contributions, and addressing the critical need for arts-centric pedagogical models that dismantle the 'starving artist' stereotype.”
The members of the core team were, next to Ellen, Joris Blanckaert and Saskia Westerduin from KASK (Music Conservatory) Ghent, and Pawan Bhansing, former ESHCC. Other partners involved are the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, Escola Superior de Música das Artes do Espectáculo in Portugal, and Athens Conservatoire.
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You can read more about the award here: https://societyaee.org/news. Learn more about SeCuM here: https://www.secum.net/presentations.