We at Samspill are proud and delighted to see our collaboration with music therapists and professional musicians highlighted in the latest peer-reviewed article published in Tidsskriftet Musikkterapi. The article, "Music That Challenges – but Also Reminds Us of Days of Freedom", presents the interdisciplinary project MUA (Music Workshop for Young Asylum Seekers), carried out over a six-month period at a transit reception centre for unaccompanied minor asylum seekers.
This was a unique collaboration where professional music therapists and performing musicians – several with refugee backgrounds – co-led the workshops, creating a safe and creative space that fostered confidence and expression. The article explores questions such as: How do participants experience being part of MUA? What characterises the collaboration between music therapists and musicians? And what can this collaboration contribute to music therapy practices with young asylum seekers?
As managing director Siri Kvambe puts it:
“There is a lot I’m proud to have been part of through my work with Samspill International Music Network, but this might be one of the most meaningful. Bringing in musicians who themselves have refugee backgrounds to co-create music workshops with music therapists and youth in transit centres – it’s hard to explain what that means. But that’s exactly what the authors of this article have managed to do. And they’ve done it beautifully.”
We warmly congratulate the authors Sofie Mortvedt, Ingrid Dyrnes Svendsen, Sidsel Karlsen og Karette Stensæth on their publication!
Read the full open-access article here:
👉 Musikk som utfordrer, men også minner om dager med frihet
Foto: Nabeeh Samaan