Art and Music Schools, policy processes and discourses of inclusion

Despite the fact that about 97 % of Sweden’s municipalities finance Art and Music Schools, such schools have no national policy documents. Recently, however, the Swedish government has commissioned an investigation to suggest a national strategy. The aim of my PhD thesis is to investigate the discourses that emerge when Sweden’s Art and Music School leaders talk about their own practice, policy processes and inclusion. 

The Swedish music education research field lacks leadership perspectives on Art and Music Schools. Because of their leaders' important role in policy processes, this research project may contribute with new knowledge in a period of challenging the music and art schools' mission.