Update:June 29, 2023

Mini Sound Map

Mini Sound Map is a project born in Braga UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts (Portugal), established by Braga Media Arts Educational Service Circuito in partnership with the municipality. Since its conception in 2018, the programme has been expanding in leaps.

The initiative is an educational programme aimed at students of 10-14 years old in Braga’s schools, proposing the creation of online audio-visual maps that utilise students’ own sound recordings and illustrations. In 2022, the project was further developed to include collaborations with other UNESCO Media Arts cities overseas, in which students exchange sounds and drawings representing their cultures, city spaces, and heritage. In 2023, it finally fell upon the youth of Sapporo to take part!

The participants of this year’s exchange were from Sapporo’s Motomachi Junior High School 3^rd Year and Braga’s Escola Básica André Soares. The project began in Sapporo on the 20^th of April 2023 and finished with a video-based exchange between the students of both schools on the 22^nd of June.

*Please click on the following images to view the sound maps on the official Mini Sound Map website (external link)

How the Project Works

Firstly, the pupils must think about what sounds they hear daily that represent their city and culture, and what might pique the interest of Braga’s students from an intercultural point of view. Participants then go about recording these sounds using tablets, and these audio files are sent to Braga. In return, Sapporo’s students receive similar audio files from Braga.

Next, each school’s students rely on their imagination and creative power to illustrate the sounds - this could be done on a more avant-garde basis, using all possible tools to depict what thoughts and feelings the sounds evoke, or they could research what they hear to attempt to create more culturally accurate portrayals of the buildings and items. The level of flexibility is high, allowing the pupils to freely use their creative potential whilst learning more about a new culture.

Lastly, these sounds and illustrations are sent on to Circuito’s professional team who create a high-quality online sound map. When an image is clicked once, the sound bite is played, which stops if clicked again. Users can listen to multiple sounds at once, producing the sensation that they are physically within that soundscape and lively environment.

Lessons & Progress

Summary of the Mini Sound Map lessons and student’s work towards the project(PDF:525KB)

UNESCO Media Arts Cities' Collaborations

2022

• Austin (USA)
• Cali (Colombia)
• Campina Grande (Brazil)
• Changsha (China)
• Gwangju (South Korea)

2023

• Dakar (Senegal)
• Guadalajara (Mexico)
• Sapporo (Japan)
• Viborg (Denmark)