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In this special report, Pekka Huttu-Hiltunen from the Runosong Academy in Finland tells us about a transnational cooperation project on oral singing cultures and their search for project partners.

A Finnish LEADER Local Action Group (Living Kainuu Leader ry.) together with a folk music research unit Runosong Academy and a folk music festival Sommelo are looking for partners to a transnational developing project, which is provisionally called European Oral Singing Cultures.

The idea, at first, is to create a network of festivals and/or organisations and musicians and scholars, who are interested in developing their activities through international cooperation, and at the same time, want to develop awareness of their cultural heritage and finally, develop cultural tourism in their area.

In the beginning, the activities could begin as LEADER transnational project cooperation (2011-2012). Later it could lead to a deeper cooperation on each sector of activities (research, festival cooperation, cultural tourism, etc.).

Runosong Academy is a research organization, run by Juminkeko Foundation. Runosong Academy is in  close cooperation with universities in Finland and also internationally. Its main focus is in the research of local song traditions in Finland and Karelia. Runosong Academy organizes seminars, expeditions and scholar meetings. It also provides scientific and other publications.

Sommelo is a relatively young folk music festival, which is a display window of those traditions that Runosong Academy is studying. Every year there are seminars during the festival, where scholars can meet, and the festival concerts present the song types in live music. Sommelo was nominated as one of the 25 best international festivals in 2010, by Songlines Magazine.  You can find more information on Sommelo's website.

For more information, please contact Dr. Pekka Huttu-Hiltunen pekka.hutttu-hiltunen@runolaulu.fi.