What can music and dance mean in a world of conflict, polarisation and major societal challenges? And what role can art play in society?
From 7 to 9 October 2026, students, teachers and staff from across the Royal Conservatoire The Hague explored these questions together. Through lectures, workshops, concerts and listening sessions, they looked beyond their own practice and reflected on why we make art, who it is for and what it can mean in times of war, loss and reconciliation.
Watch the video and explore how these three days unfolded.
How the programme unfolded
The programme was structured around three daily phases, guiding participants from open inquiry to practical application:
- Wednesday: Discovering - Exploring active citizenship, democracy, and political expression through lectures on 1960s improvised jazz, body movement, and personal stories of music in exile.
- Thursday: Analysing - Examining how music responds to trauma and war, with a focus on Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem, historical requiems, activist music communities, and artistic autonomy.
- Friday: Creating - Turning reflection into action through workshops on trauma-informed music practice (Sounds of Change), collaborative improvisation, protest songmaking, and project design for social impact.
Programme highlights included:
- Keynotes & Panels with international guest speakers, alumni, and activists.
- Interactive Workshops covering everything from Contact Improvisation and Taiji to designing societal music projects.
- Live Performances & Screenings including student compositions, a Protest Song Choir, movie nights, and a feature concert honoring Ukrainian composer Alla Zagaykevych.
- Daily Student-to-Student Listening Sessions offering an open space to share artistic work and personal stories.
