Musical programming and education for children

the educational projects of the Cultural Center of Belén and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation of Lisbon

Abstract

This article analyzes models of musical programming for children and youth audiences, and its educational approach, through the study of two pioneering institutions in the cultural panorama of educational services of Portugal: the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (FCG) and the Cultural Center of Belen (CCB), both located in Lisbon. Contemporary creation, fusion of artistic languages and reflection on what the work represents for artists and public are the main lines of thework Fábrica das Artes, the name with which the CCB’s Educational Service is known. For its part, the FCG uses more traditional formats and feels special attraction for erudite music and the canonic works and composers of the past. I conclude that, despite having different formulas and programming criteria, both centers are two valid models for the musical training of the diverse public who participate in their educational projects.