Exploring the potential of music education to facilitate children's cross-community activities in Belfast

This paper discusses a qualitative investigation of practitioners’ perceptions of the key factors for successful cross-community music education activities with Protestant and Catholic communities in Northern Ireland. The methodology and some data from interviews are discussed. It is suggested that Pettigrew’s three stages to reduce conflict between communities (intergroup contact theory) may assist in understanding the interviewees’ experiences. Practical implications for the design of cross-community projects are considered in the conclusions, including the need to offer activities that entice children, parents and schools. The paper was presented at a BERA 2009 seminar organised by the Special Interest Group Race, Ethnicity and Education. The full paper is available at the British Education Index database at http://www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/documents/188022.pdf