Community music and/or dance programmes and interventions for refugee minors: A literature review

Abstract

The recognition of the arts' role in enhancing social well-being has led to the development of art-based practices that target vulnerable social groups. Today, community arts constitute a distinct field of artistic practice and scientific research that aims to manage social problems and strengthen social cohesion. The refugee issue is timeless and particularly topical in recent years. Refugee children face many difficulties during their acculturation process, such as access to public goods and services, destabilization, emotional challenges, identity issues, social discrimination, and marginalisation. The present research aims to study music and dance practices that are used in programmes aimed at refugee minors in terms of their content and effectiveness. A descriptive review of research on community music and/or dance programmes targeting to refugee minors was conducted to achieve this aim. According to the results, the content diversity is extensive, focusing on music, while dance seems to be used mainly as a complementary activity in community music programmes. It is important that regardless of the programmes’ content, music and dance emerge as valuable tools for personal development and communication. At the same time, they can contribute to social cohesion and the enhancement of intercultural dialogue.