Join us for a live webinar on Thursday, 16 October, from 16:30–18:00 CEST on Zoom as part of Erasmus+ Days. The session brings together youth workers, researchers, and activists from Erasmus+ projects across Europe. Drawing on the storytelling focus of the Future Narratives Project and the feminist knowledge creation approach of the WeFrame project, we will explore how ‘gender’ is negotiated in today’s media landscape and how storytelling can be used to reclaim space for inclusion.

The event is free and open to youth workers, gender researchers, activists, educators, students, and all those passionate about diversity and inclusion. The conversation will be moderated by Tatiana Migaesi and Sebastian Mellgren from Traces&Dreams. It will be held in English. Zoom offers language translation with AI for accessibility.

The event will be attended by:

• Tatiana Migaesi, from Traces&Dreams | WeFrame (moderation)
• Sebastian Mellgren, from Traces&Dreams | Future Narratives (moderation)
• Tonya Blowers, Coordinator at Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD)
• Erika Ruonakoski, from Háskóli Íslands | Gender and Philosophy Project
• Irene Kamba, from The Serendipitous Black Cloud
• Amalia Ranieri, from Sinergie | Future Chronicles Project
• Ingrid Dyrnes Svendsen, from JM Norway | LOUD! Bandcamp Youth Worker Exchange
• Joschka Köck, from Theater der Unterdrückten Wien
• Aroa Carmona Valero, from Ocean Znanja u Republici Hrvatskoj | SHENARRATOR
• Hara Papadatou, from Interalia | Mothers of Europe

Sign up to receive the webinar invitation: https://forms.gle/jrTWFAKFLdzzmXmy5

More info: https://weframeproject.eu/16-10-2025-online-webinar/

Paris, July 2025 – In June, the European platform MERITA concluded its first three transformative years with a final Transnational Project Meeting in Paris. Organized by ProQuartet in collaboration with Le Dimore del Quartetto, the event was not only a celebration of results but also a testament to what happens when music, heritage, and collaboration meet.

Traces&Dreams was proud to be part of this visionary initiative, bringing its expertise in narration, storytelling, and communication to amplify the project’s impact across Europe.

A Platform for Talent and Heritage

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MERITA – where chamber Music, cultural hERITage and tAlent meet – was launched in 2022 under the Creative Europe Programme. It brought together 16 partner organizations from 12 countries, all working to support emerging string quartets and reimagine chamber music in dialogue with cultural heritage and diverse audiences.

The platform grew into a vibrant ecosystem:

• 38 string quartets, involving 152 musicians of 28 nationalities
• 192 concerts in 136 venues across 26 countries
• 39 artistic residencies in historic houses
• Engagement with children, vulnerable communities, and audiences new to classical music

Beyond Concert Halls

MERITA proved that chamber music thrives outside traditional concert spaces. From historic houses to inclusive community settings, the quartets’ projects explored themes that resonated with heterogeneous audiences. Alongside concerts and residencies, the platform offered international masterclasses, study visits, and dissemination events, expanding opportunities for professional and artistic growth.

The final Paris event, held at the Institut National des Jeunes Aveugles, embodied MERITA’s inclusive ethos. Following introductions from Francesca Moncada (Le Dimore del Quartetto) and Benoit Bezin (ProQuartet), the Wassily Quartet presented an interactive Concert à la carte, where the audience shaped the program in real time, an innovation that symbolized MERITA’s participatory spirit.

Looking Ahead: MERITAcubed

While this meeting marked the conclusion of MERITA’s first edition, the journey continues. Activities will run until August 2025 with over 25 additional concerts. In October 2025, MERITAcubed will launch, supporting 56 new ensembles including string quartets and piano trios through concerts, residencies, showcases, and tailored career development.

With 19 partners from 16 countries, the new phase will explore innovative economic models, enhance digital tools, and strengthen the resilience of the chamber music sector in a rapidly changing Europe.

Traces&Dreams’ Role

As a partner, Traces&Dreams brought its core mission into MERITA: harnessing the power of storytelling to connect people across disciplines and cultures. By translating the achievements of the platform into compelling narratives, we ensured that the stories of young musicians, historic venues, and European collaboration reached audiences far beyond the project itself.

For Traces&Dreams, MERITA was more than a cultural project, it was a living example of how stories, when shared, can foster understanding, creativity, and sustainability across Europe.