In the heart of Sofia, Bulgaria, at the renowned Toplocentrala Centre for Contemporary Arts, something extraordinary unfolded from June 5th to 7th, 2024. Imagine a vibrant convergence of over 100 representatives from more than 20 European countries, not merely exchanging pleasantries but engaged in deep discussions on one potent theme: “Equity in Music.” This was the 12th edition of the European Forum on Music (EFM), an event that sparkled with groundbreaking insights and passionate dialogues, all orchestrated under the dynamic guidance of the Bulgarian Music Association. What made this gathering truly special was its ambitious aim to shatter the conventional notions of music’s universality—a concept often misunderstood and taken for granted.
Picture a vivid tapestry woven with the voices of esteemed panellists like Mariana Bondarenko from the Ukrainian Institute, Mila Georgieva from the Bulgarian Music Association, Carlos Martins of Sons da Lusofonia, Tomas Van Respaille from BOZAR, and the insightful Bulgarian Cultural Minister, Nayden Todorov. These visionaries collectively explored how music transcends geographic boundaries while also addressing the pressing need to balance these cultural inequities. Supported by the European Union, Germany’s Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, and the City of Bonn, the forum tackled the complexities and celebrated the nuances of “Music as Universal Language.” This year’s EFM set the stage not just for a symphony of diverse voices, but for a movement toward true equity in the music world.
