Olga Kolokytha

Olga Kolokytha is a Senior Scientist and Course Director at the Center for Applied Music Research, University for Continuing Education Krems. She holds a PhD in Cultural Institutions Studies (University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna), MA in Arts Management (City University London), and BA in Musicology and Music Education (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki). Her research focuses on cultural policy, creative industries, cultural heritage, and sociology of culture. She leads the Horizon 2020 project CICERONE and the current Composing Change project funded by Bundesländer. She has taught at universities across Europe and serves on editorial and advisory boards including the journal City, Culture and Society and the European Sociological Association’s Sociology of the Arts network.

• Education:
  • PhD, Cultural Institutions Studies (University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna)
  • MA, Arts Management (City University London)
  • BA, Musicology and Music Education (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)
• Research Interests:
  • Cultural policy, creative industries, cultural management
  • Cultural heritage and memory
  • Artistic development and institutional governance
• Key Awards:
  • Best Publication Award (2016) for her PhD research
  • 7th place in European Cultural Foundation’s Policy Research Award (2006)
• Professional Roles:
  • Member of European Sociological Association’s Sociology of the Arts Board
  • Advisory roles in EU cultural policy consultations
  • European Opera Centre Projects Manager (2003–present)
• Labs/Teams:
  • Leading Composing Change project on orchestral impact in European societies
  • Co-leads CICERONE’s work package on cultural production networks

Her work bridges theoretical research with practical policy engagement, addressing issues like cultural accessibility, digital transformation, and gender equity in the arts. She has published widely on cultural diplomacy, crisis responses, and grassroots activism in the cultural sector.