About

The UNESCO Week of Sound is a series of international events that was first established in France in 2004, and currently takes place annually in a growing number of cities around the world.

The mission of the Week of Sound is to raise awareness about the importance of sound in today’s world, focusing on the five key areas highlighted in a discussion held at UNESCO’s 39th session in 2017 (read the full document here):

  1. the sounding environment  
  2. health, especially hearing health
  3. sound recording, reproduction,and conservation technology,
  4. the relation between image and sound
  5. and musical and sound expression.

The UNESCO Week of Sound in Edinburgh was first established by Dr Martin Parker and Dr Eleni-Ira Panourgia in 2023. It is the first Week of Sound in Scotland and in United Kingdom, and is hosted by Edinburgh College of Art at the University of Edinburgh.  

UNESCO Week of Sound in Edinburgh

Founding Directors:
Dr Martin Parker
Dr Eleni-Ira Panourgia

Director of the 2025 Week of Sound in Edinburgh:
Dr M. J. Grant

Supported by a generous bequest from Barry Wright, and by the Reid School of Music.

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