HISTORY
The Ateliers d’ethnomusicologie has existed since 1983, without taking into account the long period of development leading up to its formation. The existence of the Ateliers d’ethnomusicologie can be considered significant in two respects: on the one hand, it underlines a new openness towards “world cultures” and “other” cultures, which is perhaps one of the striking characteristics of post-colonial awareness at the end of the 20th Century and beginning of the 21st; on the other hand the association expresses in its own manner the “spirit of Geneva”, of which its inhabitants pride themselves on, a spirit that could be characterised by a certain type of tolerance, humanism and intercultural appreciation.
Some Key Dates
2011 The Roads of India Festival, in collaboration with the Musée d’ethnographie de Genève
2009 Ecstasy and Trance Festival
2005 Music, Shamanism and Possession seminar organised in collaboration with the Musée d’ethnographie.
2003 Organisation of the Ethnomad festival and Migrant Music seminar, for the Ateliers d’ethnomusicologie’s 20th anniversary
2002 Opening of the Ateliers’ offices and part of their activities in the new premises allocated by the Town of Geneva at 10, rue de Montbrillant
2001 Creation of the Ethnomad CD collection in collaboration with Arion (Paris), focusing on “migrant music” and in particular those ensembles residing in the Geneva region (10 CDs released between 2001 and 2003)
1998 Creation of the website
1995 Programming of the Fête de la Diversité on the Plaine de Plainpalais (85 musical ensembles from 70 different nationalities).
Creation of the multidisciplinary workshops event, Croisée des cultures, which is organised each year at the beginning of summer
1992 The first Fête de la Musique, within which the Ateliers runs the World Music and Dance stage.
1991 Organisation of the annual conference on European ethnomusicology. Over one hundred professionals from all over Europe participated.
1988 Creation of Cahiers de musiques traditionelles, an annual publication and the only French language journal on ethnomusicology in the world.
1983 Foundation of the Ateliers d’ethnomusicologie association on 12 December.
