Workshop: Diversity in EMC Events

Participation - EMC members only.

On 5-6 November 2026 in Girona, EMC will bring together its members in a workshop to navigate how to strengthen diversity across EMC events.

Taking the concrete example of the European Forum on Music, we will identify:

  • existing limitations and barriers to diversity

  • the areas in which EMC and its members have the agency to bring about change

  • practical measures that could make future events more diverse.

However, diversity cannot stand in isolation. It is not possible without equity, inclusion and access. Every role matters, whether on-stage or off-stage. Every type of diversity matters, whether with visible characteristics or not. These principles will flow into discussions throughout the workshop.

Through collective reflection and discussion, participants will contribute to the development of a set of guidelines for future EMC events. These guidelines will help EMC and its members to consciously advance diversity throughout the planning and delivery of their activities.

Participation is for EMC members only.

Applications are open until 20 September 2026.

The workshop will be hosted by EMC member Moviment Coral Català.

Facilitators

Sophie Dowden

Sophie Dowden is a freelance facilitator and consultant for European cultural projects, research and policy. She works primarily on the topics of DEI&A (diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility) and health and wellbeing with European cultural networks and national and regional cultural organisations.

She currently manages two Creative Europe projects: Rotating AiRs, coordinated by HMK, comprising international residencies at the intersection of climate change and colonialism, and the SWAN project, coordinated by Norsk Sangerforum, on supporting the participation of people with additional needs in collective singing.

Sophie has also been on the research team of the Europe Beyond Access project, was the facilitator of the European Network of Cultural Centres’ working group on inclusion and accessibility and led on UN SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities in the SHIFT project. Previously, she was project manager at the European Choral Association and policy officer at Culture Action Europe.

Photo credits: Chris Marchal

 

Sepehr Sharifzadeh

Sepehr Sharifzadeh is an Iranian curator, creative producer, and cultural intermediary based in France. Initially an award-winning playwright, filmmaker, and actor, he shifted his focus from creating works to creating contexts, specialising in production, curation, and international collaboration within the performing arts.

Over the past decade, Sepehr has fostered global artistic exchange across the world. He co-founded Re-connect, an online festival supporting independent collaboration, and the New Narrative Showcase for Iranian and diasporic artists. A dedicated network builder, he founded PADA (Producers, Agents and Distributors Alliance), uniting over 160 professionals across 30 countries.

Sepehr is an ISPA and Salzburg Global Seminar Fellow, has served on the IETM Advisory Committee, and is an alumnus of The Festival Academy’s Steering Committee. He is frequently invited to give keynotes and facilitate sessions on the politics of cultural exchange, artist mobility, and cross-border collaboration built on fairness and care (diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion).

Photo credits: Razvan Oltean