I will be giving a presentation in Urban Soundscapes & Critical Citizenship, March 27th and 28th, at the University of Limerick. Titled “Our Sonic Playground: A Model For Active Engagement in Urban Soundscape,” my focus will be on recent events that engage public participation actively in the urban soundscape.

Urban Soundscapes and Critical Citizenship poster (PDF)

In particular, I plan to talk about last October’s event at the Museum of Contemporary Art, in partnership with the Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology (MSAE) and students from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). I will review MSAE partnerships and public engagements with the Gropius in Chicago Coalition and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

“Our Sonic Playground” may serve as a model for much needed future active engagements, and help to define acoustic ecology as an applied practice. These activities suggest ways to partner with like-minded organizations, including public agencies and the public at-large; as well as artists, students, activists, and other constituencies and disciplines.