Knowledge-sharing afternoon on Inclusivity and Accessibility in the live music industry in the Northern Netherlands

Inclusivity and accessibility are key issues within the cultural sector. Many organisations say they consider these matters important, but putting them into practice often remains complicated. Why is that? And what is needed to change this? In other words: what is needed to create an inclusive and accessible music scene in the Northern Netherlands? We will attempt to answer this question during this Knowledge afternoon.

Where and when?

The Knowledge Afternoon will take place on Friday 2 October 2026.

Location: Harmony Building (Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat 26, Groningen).

What is it about?

There is a lot of attention within the sector for inclusivity and accessibility, but there is still work to be done. The issues are incredibly broad: it’s not just about what’s on stage, but also about who works for organisations and what kind of audience is being reached. And inclusivity goes beyond gender and cultural background: is offering a variety of music genres also part of inclusivity? And how accessible is the music scene if you live in a village in Drenthe?

Given that context is particularly important when it comes to inclusivity and accessibility, and that there is never a one-size-fits-all solution, it is important to discuss how these issues play out specifically in the Northern Netherlands: what are the biggest obstacles people face in this region? To better address these challenges, it is important for organisations to exchange knowledge and discuss the obstacles they face and how they are trying to overcome them.

The aim of this Knowledge Afternoon is to bring together as many organisations from the Northern Netherlands as possible to discuss these topics, to learn from one another and to add depth to the current debate on these issues. In addition to facilitating the exchange of knowledge, we also hope to encourage collaboration, both between organisations and between organisations and the university.

What will the afternoon look like?

We’ll kick off the afternoon with a talkshow, in which staff, artists and academics will discuss the question: how can we better support and connect the music industry in the Northern Netherlands to create a more inclusive and accessible music scene?

This will be followed by a programme of short talks, workshops and brainstorming sessions, alongside an information market where organisations can present themselves and students can showcase their research.

The afternoon will end with drinks. And of course, it wouldn’t be complete without live music!

More information about the programme will follow.

Previous research projects

The Science Shop for Language, Culture and Communication has been collaborating with ESNS for several years running on research projects concerning inclusivity, specifically focused on the live music industry.

This year, a study was also conducted in collaboration with BumaStemra, looking at the gender pay gap in royalties.

Does your organisation have a question for the Science Shop? Please send an email to tawi rug.nl!