The Network of European Bagpipers

<< Background >>Traditional music is one of the most visibile and important part of European intangible cultural heritage (ICH). Cultural heritage is a value in itself that builds identities and sense of beloning to a region,country and part of the world, but, in addittion, the knowledge and practices accumulated through time have been used to make sustainable use of natural resources and minimize the impact of climate change. Traditional music has always been in people's lives and, compared to professional one, it in its various forms is available to everyone, regardless of abilities, skills, gender, ethnicity or religion. It promotes the inclusion of various social groups in society, including seniors, people with special needs, and addresses the issue of gender equality. The main needs that are being met during the project are to increase the competence of the staff of the organizations to work better with their target groups - bagpipe practitioners. As well as the need of learners - practitioners of ICH for quality training, masterclasses and other knowledge-raising activities, also exchange of views with like-minded people at the local, national and international levels.<< Objectives >>Main objectives were to strengthen both the capacity of project partners' staff and organizations and to promote the knowledge and skills of their target groups, practitioners of ICH , in parallel with the specific goals of the project: promoting more active community activities and the formation of a more inclusive society.The project has set up a European network of bagpipers, involving both the partner organizations themselves and practitioners of ICH, as well as other local and national level cooperation organizations. The project enabled people from very different European countries to work together, thus raising their awareness of Europe's common cultural heritage and strengthening their sense of belonging to it, as well as to their communities.<< Implementation >>The main project objective was achieved through various project activities, implementing the project in a diverse and effective way: project partners' staff and practitioners training events, educational materials (intellectual outputs) created in the project such as Good practise examples booklet, Online summary of methodologies and approaches, Online training course and different dissemination activities were also organised.<< Results >>The project set up a European network of bagpipers, involving both the partner organizations themselves andpractitioners of ICH, as well as other local and national level cooperation organizations, raising their competencies in nonformal adult education. All project outcomes and results:- Six Project partners training events organised (at least 3 days program + 2 days for traveling);- Three different intellectual outputs were created:1. Online/ in person local trainings organised by each partner to their target groups and as a result 6 videos with English titles created and published.2. Summary of methodologies and approaches (presentations made by each partner about the organisation’s activitites to promote bagpipes tradition)3. Good practise examples booklet – in English and all partner organisation’s languages.- Dissemination activities organised:1. Six local seminars organised at the last stage of the project to inform the target groups of each organization about the results and outcomes of the project;2. Dissemination of project results in social networks (Facebook, Instagram etc.), websites, media etc.