New European Bauhaus Prizes 2023

Project category

Identify the award category for which this project is being submitted
Reconnecting with nature

Email user
soundearthlegacy@gmail.com

Basic information
Project title
Sound Heritage Observatory

Full Project Title
Pyrenees-Mediterranean Sound Heritage Observatory by Sound Earth Legacy

Please provide a short, catchy description of your project to be used in communication towards the public.
OPS-PM is an alliance of cross-border cultural and scientific organizations for the exchange of knowledge, sound recording, creation and promotion of European sound heritage and identity. In its first edition it focused on the Pyrenees-Mediterranean territories. Thanks to the empathic power of sound, the Observatory connects citizens with their immediate natural environment and fosters artistic and scientific exchange between EU communities.

What was the geographical scope of your project?
Cross-border/international

Where was your project implemented?
Location 1
Spain

Location 2
France

Member State(s), Western Balkans and other countries
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If relevant, insert names of region(s)/municipality(ies) involved
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Does your project address mainly urban or rural issues?
It addresses urban-rural linkages

Does your project refer to a physical transformation of the built environment or other types of transformations (hard or soft investments)?
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)

Has your project benefited from EU programmes and/or funds?
Yes

Which fund(s)?
Euroregion

Has your project won an EU prize with a monetary value awarded?
No

Is your project fully completed
Yes

Please indicate a date (mm/yy)
2022-10-30

On whose behalf are you submitting the application?
As a representative of an organisation
Please provide the contact details for the project promoter (the individual or representative of the organisation authorised to represent the project)
- Name of the organisation(s): Sound Earth Legacy
  Type of organisation: Non-profit organisation
  First name of representative: Andrea
  Last name of representative: Posada
  Gender: Female
  Nationality: Spain
  If relevant, please select your other nationality: Colombia
  Function: CEO & Founder
  Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Carrer del bosc 20
  Town: Barcelona
  Postal code: 08017
  Country: Spain
  Direct Tel: +34 678 17 23 40
  E-mail: soundearthlegacy@gmail.com
  Website: https://soundearthlegacy.org/
Social Media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.)
- URL: https://www.instagram.com/soundearthlegacy/
  Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): SoundEarthLegacy #SoundHeritage
In case my project is selected as a finalist of the NEB Prizes 2023, I agree to share the name (individual and/or organisation’s), email address, website and social media accounts indicated above with other NEB Prizes finalists. I also agree to publish the name (individual and/or organisation’s), website and social media accounts indicated above next to the public description of my project in the channels of the European Commission.
Yes

How did you hear about the New European Bauhaus Prizes?
Social Media

Description of the project
Please provide a summary of your project.
Sound Earth Legacy is a digital platform and creative agency aiming to preserve the natural sounds of the earth that will probably disappear due to climate change. They create unique environmental awareness content through sound and music. They work for cultural and private sector.
As part of its efforts, Sound Earth Legacy promoted the establishment of the first Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion sound observatory in 2022. To achieve this goal, the organization is clear that it is necessary to generate a sense of belonging to the green spaces shared by different European territories. OPS-PM is a cross-border alliance of cultural and scientific organizations that promotes the exchange of knowledge, sound recording, creation, and promotion of the Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion's sound heritage and identity. It is co-funded by the Euroregion program and operates in Spain (Barcelona, Menorca, and Mallorca) and France (Occitania). the project counted sound artists selected in each territory through an open call, who were dedicated to recording the sound identity of the different territories based on the importance of its biodiversity. With the sounds recorded, they created a unique piece of music that they presented in a free concert. In addition to presenting them in a unique concert, the artists held different workshops in institutions of each territory, sharing their experiences, and creating bridges between science, culture, and society.

Please indicate the main themes of your project with 5 key words.
Ecoacoustic

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words
Science

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words
Music

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words
Natural Sound

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words
Environment

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of sustainability and how these have been met. Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context.
The project has several key objectives in line with sustainability. Firstly, to involve the artistic community of the different territories with the need to conserve our ecosystems. Through an open artistic call, we not only encourage local creation in the different territories, but also, by doing it together with Sound Earth Legacy's European partners, we manage to promote a sense of belonging to the community. The first call for artists of the sound heritage observatory specified in its rules that artists should create a music piece with the natural sounds of their territory, based on the importance of its biodiversity. This process, which we call sustainable music, connects the artist with the natural environment, creating an immersive experience in the forests, rivers and mountains of the euroregion, encouraging an active listening of the environment.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people (through design, positive emotions and cultural benefits) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context.
The Sound Heritage Observatory encompasses all members of society, from young to old.The workshops for children were included to complement the sonic projects and secure the preservation of our ecosystems for future generations. The workshops aimed to not only educate but also involve children in the project and provide them with a new perspective on their natural landscapes.Active listening was crucial to the project, as Sound Earth Legacy seeks to raise awareness of the emotional and health benefits derived from natural sounds. The connection to our environment through sound establishes a meaningful bond with nature and our surrounding ecosystems. This emotional connection encourages citizens to play an active role in conserving and preserving the ecosystems that make up our sound heritage

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of inclusion (ranging from accessibility and affordability for all to inclusive governing systems, design for all principles or new societal models) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context.
The Sound Heritage Observatory invites all members of society to participate, without discrimination. The participant selection process ensured gender balance to promote fairness and address the under-representation of women in both the music and scientific industries. The results of the Sound Heritage Observatory are available to all with the belief that an open and accessible culture contributes to a more sustainable society. Therefore, all sound research is accessible to all in a publicly available sound map that categorizes the different sounds.

Please explain the way citizens benefiting from or affected by the project and civil society have been involved in the project and what has been the impact of this involvement on the project
The project aims to preserve the sound heritage of different territories, which are at risk of disappearing due to the impacts of climate change and noise pollution. Ensuring access to this information is a fundamental right for all citizens, as it provides essential knowledge about the classification and identification of sounds. Sound Earth Legacy believes that access to this information should be freely and openly available, ensuring the right to information for all citizens. Projects like the Sound Heritage Observatory are critical for not only understanding our roots and connecting with our ecosystems, but also for taking action. By making this information freely available, it is a first step in engaging citizens in the protection and conservation of our ecosystems.

Please explain how different stakeholders at various levels (local, regional, national, European) were engaged in the design and implementation of the project. Please highlight what the added value of their engagement was.
The collaboration of European level strategic partners was crucial for the project's success. Partners including Casa d'Artistes, CIRDOC, Museu Balear de Ciències Naturals, and the Natural Park of Collserola participated and helped define the identity of the Euroregion. These institutions provided scientific and technical support to artists. The institutions also conducted outreach activities related to the artists' sound pieces, such as workshops for kids, active listening sessions, presentations with sound specialists, and concerts. Communication between institutions was maintained and connected artists from different territories, leading to the formation of a creative community dedicated to protecting ecosystems. The project not only raises environmental awareness but also fosters community and dialogue between European communities.

Please explain which disciplines and/ or knowledge fields were reflected in the design and implementation of your project. Please explain how representatives of these different fields interacted with each other, and what the added value of this process was.
This project blends music and science to raise awareness of the importance of preserving our ecosystems. It uses ecoacoustics as a scientific foundation for musical compositions that are meant to reach a wide audience. The first call for artists aimed to demonstrate how art and culture can play a key role in raising awareness of climate change and how art can be based on scientific principles. By equalizing different fields of knowledge, the project highlights the potential of art in promoting environmental conservation. However, the general public has limited knowledge of ecoacoustics, so the project invites listeners to identify the natural sounds in the resulting songs, such as river sounds, bird songs, and the sounds of small invertebrates, to foster curiosity about the environment.

Please give information on the results, outcomes and impacts achieved by your project in relation to the category you apply for. This includes also benefits from the project for direct and indirect beneficiaries
The artists gained exposure through different partners' networks and published their songs on Sound Earth Legacy platforms, propelling their careers into a new community and raising awareness of their unique artistic process in the music industry. This project also connected scientific institutions to new audiences, fostering cultural exchange between communities. The resulting songs were showcased in a public event at the Real Circulo Artistico de Barcelona and have already garnered thousands of listeners on Sound Earth Legacy's streaming platforms.

Please provide documents showing the results, outcomes and impacts of your project
Web link
Web link
Please highlight the innovative character of the project, when compared to mainstream actions in the field of the project
This is the first Sound Heritage Observatory with a cultural focus and the first of its kind in the Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion. The collaboration between cultural and scientific organizations across borders is crucial in today's global context. By working from the local and specific perspectives of each region, it is possible to achieve a common global goal. Raising awareness and sensitivity towards climate change, which is a shared problem globally, requires local understanding. Involving citizens in conservation efforts of vulnerable ecosystems requires them to understand the impact on their communities, making these cross-border alliances crucial.

Please describe the methodology or approach used in your project.
The project starts with a research phase to identify territories based on their sound richness, vulnerability, and the availability of cultural and scientific partners. After the territories are selected, Sound Earth Legacy engages with local partners to establish the guidelines for the artistic call. When artists are selected, a phase of immersion and research in the territory begins. The institutions connect the artists with local experts in environmental conservation and sound creation, promoting interdisciplinary applied research that combines technical aspects of conservation and artistic sound creation.

Please describe which elements of your project could be replicated or transferred to other places, groups of beneficiaries and context. This may involve for example aspects of the methodology, technology, processes, products, learnings etc.
The Pyrenees-Mediterranean sound heritage observatory is specific to that region, but its methodology could be applied to other European communities. A research phase would be necessary to adapt the project to a new territory, creating a parallel project that preserves its unique identity and characteristics. From Sound Earth Legacy's perspective, establishing other Sound Heritage Observatories could increase global understanding of ecosystems, but each observatory must maintain its own particular identity.

Please explain what kind of global challenges the project addresses by providing local solutions
The effects of climate change have been a global issue for decades, but it's becoming increasingly challenging to engage citizens in preserving vulnerable ecosystems. Sound Earth Legacy believes that sound is an effective way to evoke emotional connections and inspire positive change for the environment. To achieve this, it is important to start at the local level by educating citizens about the richness of their local ecosystems. Involving a broad range of stakeholders, such as the artistic community with its ability to reach a large audience and institutions that offer creative solutions to global problems, is crucial. The Sound Heritage Observatory is not only a source of environmental knowledge but also a place to experience the environment through sound. It serves as an inspiration for other regions around the world to protect their ecosystems through empathy. By uniting different institutions through local projects, we can drive global change.
Please attach at least 6 high resolution images (or other types of visual representations, if images are not possible) to your application.
If you would like to upload additional documentation, please upload or write below
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By submitting your application you confirm that you are the copyright owner of the images provided and that they can be used by the European Commission for the purposes of promoting the New European Bauhaus on all platforms (websites, print, social media and other).
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that you are not in in one or more of the exclusion situations foreseen under Article 136 of the Financial Regulation.
Yes

By submitting this application, I declare that I am not related to the entities subject to EU restricted measures under Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and subject to Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU)1, and entities covered by Commission Guidelines No 2013/C 205/05), which are not eligible to participate in any capacity.
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that you assume sole liability in the event of a claim relating to the activities carried out in the framework of the contest, that the proposed project has not been proposed for the New European Bauhaus Prizes in any other category or strand and that it has not been subject to any type of investigation, which could lead to a financial correction because of irregularities or fraud.
Yes

By submitting your application, you guarantee that you are the author or have the rights to proceed with the application and to authorise the use of the project and that you have obtained any necessary consents, licenses or assignments from third parties and included copyright notices when necessary.
Yes

By submitting your application, you understand that all the applications that meet the eligibility requirements will be shared for the purposes of the selection processes, and notably published on the secured platform prizes.new-european-bauhaus.eu and for the purposes of the promotion of these on the New European Bauhaus website and/or other European Commission communication channels. In this sense, the applications would be widely available. Applicants should ensure that they present their projects, in such a way that they could be shared without giving rise to intellectual property related concerns. If your submission is selected as one of the finalists, it will additionally be shared for the purpose of the public vote that will take place. The European Union is granted a licence to use and share your application with the general public and the official external experts for the purposes of the selection process, including the voting. The European Union has the right to use the images and visual materials and the description provided in the application for communication purposes related to the contest and beyond. Rights granted comprise the right to store, reproduce, display, publish and communicate or distribute copies in electronic or digital format, including, but not only, through the internet. Unless you have disclosed your name, the European Commission has no obligation to share your name when using or disseminating your contribution to the public. The European Union cannot be held responsible in case any submitted project, is found to infringe third party’s rights. The European Union shall be neither responsible for the use that third parties may do of the applications or related content.
Yes

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you read and understand that the ‘Guide to Applicants’ of the NEB Prizes 2023, available online in the website of the NEB Prizes 2023, is an integral part of this application form and that it must therefore be observed when completing and submitting your application.
Yes