Research as a foundation for artistic co-creation

One of the key intellectual and artistic pillars of the MOTIVE – Merging Original Traditions Into New Voices of Europe project was the development of a Joint Study exploring musical traditions in the partner countries: Poland, Italy and Lithuania. The study was conceived as more than a desk-based research exercise. Instead, it functioned as a shared knowledge base supporting artistic collaboration, intercultural dialogue and creative experimentation.

By combining research and artistic practice, the Joint Study created a common framework that allowed participants to better understand each other’s cultural backgrounds and to translate traditional elements into contemporary musical expression.

Objectives of the Joint Study

The main objective of the Joint Study was to map and compare selected aspects of local music traditions represented within the project, while identifying elements that could inspire new forms of artistic collaboration. The study focused on both historical and contemporary perspectives, ensuring relevance for today’s young musicians.

Key goals included:

• documenting characteristic musical features from each partner country,

• exploring traditional instruments, genres and performance practices,

• highlighting stories of influential local musicians and cultural contexts,

• identifying common threads and differences across European music traditions,

• creating a shared reference point for international co-creation activities.

A collaborative and transnational research process

The Joint Study was developed through close cooperation between project partners, artists and cultural organisations. Rather than assigning research to a single entity, the MOTIVE consortium adopted a collaborative research model, reflecting the project’s broader participatory philosophy.

Each partner contributed insights related to their local context, drawing on:

• cultural expertise and institutional knowledge,

• consultations with musicians and educators,

• analysis of historical and contemporary sources,

• reflections emerging from artistic practice and workshops.

This collective approach ensured that the study reflected multiple perspectives and avoided a one-dimensional or purely academic interpretation of musical heritage.

From research to artistic inspiration

A distinctive feature of the MOTIVE Joint Study was its direct connection to artistic practice. The research findings were not treated as static documentation, but as inspiration for creative work carried out during international co-creation sessions.

Artists participating in the project used the Joint Study to:

• discover unfamiliar musical traditions from partner countries,

• experiment with blending traditional elements and modern forms,

• reflect on the cultural meaning behind specific sounds and structures,

• develop original compositions grounded in shared European heritage.

In this way, the Joint Study functioned as a bridge between knowledge and creativity, supporting informed artistic decision-making.

Strengthening intercultural understanding among young musicians

Beyond its artistic relevance, the Joint Study played an important educational and social role. For many participants, it was their first opportunity to engage deeply with musical traditions outside their own cultural environment.

Through the study, young musicians:

• developed greater cultural awareness and sensitivity,

• learned to contextualise their own artistic identity within a broader European landscape,

• improved their ability to communicate and collaborate across cultural boundaries,

• gained confidence in working within international creative teams.

These outcomes contributed significantly to the project’s broader aim of professionalising amateur musicians and preparing them for international cooperation.

European added value and long-term relevance

The Joint Study exemplifies the European added value of the MOTIVE project. By bringing together diverse musical traditions within a single research framework, it demonstrated how cultural diversity can serve as a resource rather than a barrier.

Importantly, the study remains relevant beyond the project’s lifetime. It can be reused:

• as an educational resource for future training activities,

• as a reference for artists and educators working in intercultural contexts,

• as a methodological model for similar international cultural projects.

In combination with the MOTIVE Training Toolkit and artistic outputs, the Joint Study forms a coherent and transferable knowledge base supporting sustainable cultural cooperation in Europe.

Joint Study as a cornerstone of the MOTIVE legacy

The Joint Study was not an isolated deliverable, but an integral component of the MOTIVE ecosystem. Together with training activities, co-creation sessions and public performances, it helped transform individual artistic traditions into a shared European creative experience.

By embedding research into the artistic process, MOTIVE demonstrated how joint studies can enrich not only knowledge, but also artistic quality, collaboration and long-term impact within international cultural projects.