A week of events on the themes of hearing health, the sound environment and musical expression will take place in Edinburgh, Scotland, from 16 to 20 October 2023. Aiming to raise awareness about the importance of the quality of our sound environment, it will be the first UNESCO Week of Sound to take place in the United Kingdom.
Produced in partnership with the University of Edinburgh, it features concerts, workshops, talks and discussions, looking at how sound relates to predominant issues of our time.
All events in the United Nations educational, scientific and cultural programme are free. They include a panel discussion on ‘The Future of Deafness and Deaf Culture,’ as well as a performance of Steve Reich’s Different Trains by the Signal/Noise Ensemble, a panel discussion about the sounds of change in water environments and an online discussion about sound and mental health.
"The UNESCO Week of Sound explores how sound connects with some of the biggest issues facing the world today,” said Dr Martin Parker, head of the University of Edinburgh's Reid School of Music, based at Edinburgh College of Art. “From climate change and mental health to the sounds of protest and community action to artificial intelligence. The Reid School of Music at the University of Edinburgh is the perfect place to engage the public and student body with new ideas and performances that connect with global challenges that concern us all. We are thrilled to host a new chapter of the UNESCO Week of Sound here in Edinburgh."
