TUNING IN THE VALLEY OF SOUNDS: EXPLORING COLLABORATIVE PROFESSIONALISM IN RADIOPHONIC ART
TUNING IN THE VALLEY OF SOUNDS: EXPLORING COLLABORATIVE PROFESSIONALISM IN RADIOPHONIC ART

Summary/Abstract: This study explores collaborative professionalism through a participatory case study focused on sound-based art situated in the Lož Valley, Slovenia. Drawing on sonic studies and sound pedagogy, the project involved school children, elderly citizens, and professionals in sound and music, aiming to map local soundscapes and create a documentary radio drama. Methodologically, the study used ethnographic observations of the process and focus group interviews with participating professionals. It unfolded in two phases: live encounters in school and community settings, followed by online workshops. The inquiry was structured around four guiding questions related to the: (1) specifics of collaborative participatory sound work in Lož Valley; (2) connection between sound, space, identities, and communities; (3) professionals’ understanding of collaborative processes; and (4) evolving relationship between children and sound. Findings reveal that children and elderly participants, recognised as experts in their lived experience, enriched the creative process and fostered new intergenerational connections rooted in everyday acoustic environments and technologies. Additionally, the results indicate that listening and sound-making exist on a continuum of participation, where peer collaboration and a relational approach to education enhance children’s listening capacities. The study contributes to debates on participatory art, collaborative professionalism, and collective authorship in contemporary education and cultural production.

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