Resumo

The purpose of the study is to examine the processes and perceptions of learners engaged in activities within an intercultural multimodal arts program called Unity Through Music. This school-based program involves the creation of artistic partnerships among learners in two countries with the aim of developing intercultural understanding of the role of music and art in each other’s socio-cultural contexts and lives. The program was introduced to children and adolescents attending arts/music classes in the Lower Mainland, British Columbia, Canada and the School of Music of Sobral in Sobral, Ceará, Brazil. Learners are creating multimodal musical and artistic representations as part of their regular school/classroom activities and sharing them with each other through online conferencing (e.g., Skype). Learners are also involved in creative collaborations, which will form the basis of an exhibition and performance presentation through online conferencing. Where possible, the study involves video recording the learners as they engage in the Unity Through Music program. The aim is to provide a detailed account of the learning opportunities and interactions that take place between students from the two countries. The study’s goal is to contribute to the overall understanding of the impact of expansive learning opportunities and transformative engagement experiences through intercultural multimodal sense making. This work will inform the development of a larger-scale participatory intercultural and multimodal research and community arts program that is planned for the future.