https://norskfolkemusikklag.wordpress.com/norskfolkemusikklag/2025_konferansen/
Call for papers
Norsk folkemusikklag – 2025 Conference
NORWEGIAN FOLK MUSIC AND MIGRATION:
TRANSATLANTIC EXCHANGE OF NORWEGIAN FOLK MUSIC AND DANCE TRADITIONS
September 17–19, 2025, USN campus Rauland, Norway
2025 marks the 200th anniversary of Norwegian emigration to North America. In the decades following 1825 approximately 800,000 emigrants left Norway, and strong Norwegian diaspora communities were established, particularly in the American Upper Midwest. Among these emigrants were musicians, singers and dancers who brought Norwegian cultural traditions with them.
Migration is a central part of Norwegian history, including the history of Norwegian folk music and dance. Norsk folkemusikklag–the Norwegian National Committee of the International Council for Traditions of Music and Dance (ICTMD)–aims to shed light on the transatlantic exchange of folk music and dance traditions through the conference “Norwegian folk music and migration: transatlantic
exchange of Norwegian folk music and dance traditions”.
We welcome researchers, students, musicians, dancers and others to submit proposals for conference papers/presentations addressing various aspects of Norwegian folk music/dance and migration, such as:
● The impact of migration on the development of Norwegian-American folk music and dance
● Cross-cultural influences and the development of hybrid musical/dance forms between
Norwegian and American traditions
● The role of folk music and dance in shaping cultural identity in Norwegian-American contexts
● Transatlantic exchange of folk music and dance traditions
● Biographical/case studies of Norwegian-American musicians and dancers
● Efforts to document and preserve Norwegian-American folk music and dance traditions
● The role of archives, museums, and cultural institutions in sustaining Norwegian
musical/dance heritage in North America
● Teaching and learning contexts for Norwegian-American or Norwegian folk music and dance
in North America–e.g. case studies of educational programmes, workshops,
community/grassroots initiatives
● How knowledge about the migration of Norwegian folk music and dance traditions can shed
light on aspects of contemporary migration and integration in Norway
● Contemporary migration and Norwegian folk music/dance: people of migrant background as
practitioners of Norwegian folk music and dance in Norway
● Norwegian folk music and dance abroad: performing Norwegian folk music and dance in
international contexts
● The migration of folk music instruments or instrument makers to/from Norway
Abstract submission
We welcome proposals for conference papers and other types of presentations that engage with the theme of the conference, including collaborations between musicians/dancers and researchers, and alternative presentation formats (e.g. panel discussion, roundtable, lecture-recital). The time frame for individual conference papers is 20 minutes (followed by 10 min. discussion), while other presentation
formats may extend to 45 or 90 minutes (including time for questions and discussion). In all cases, the presenter(s) should submit an abstract/summary of max. 300 words and a short biography (max. 150 words). Please include the name and contact information of the presenter(s), title
and format of the presentation, and technical needs (projector, sound, etc.).
The deadline to submit an abstract is April 15, 2025. All submitted abstracts will be reviewed by the
organising committee.
After the conference, there will also be an opportunity to submit a more comprehensive contribution
to a special issue of the journal Musikk og tradisjon.
The main language of the conference will be Norwegian, but English-language proposals will also be
considered.
Abstracts and any questions should be sent to: norskfolkemusikklag@gmail.com
Important dates:
● Call for papers: February 15, 2025
● Deadline for abstract submission: April 15, 2025
● Notification of acceptance by May 15, 2025
Practical information about the conference
The conference will be held at the University of South-Eastern Norway, campus Rauland.
The registration fee for presenters will be kept as low as possible, with discounts for students and
other non-salaried presenters. Presenters must cover their own travel and accommodation expenses.
We encourage conference participants to become members of NFL or ICTMD, but membership is not
required to attend or present at the conference.
Visit the conference website for more information: https://norskfolkemusikklag.wordpress.com/norskfolkemusikklag/
2025_konferansen/
Organising committee
Jon Hjellum Brodal
Knut Aastad Bråten
Laura Ellestad
Tone Erlien Myrvold