Tuulikki Laes

Tuulikki Laes is a University Researcher at the University of the Arts Helsinki and a casual lecturer at the MuTri doctoral school, Sibelius Academy. She holds an Academy Research Fellowship (2023-2027) from the Research Council of Finland, leading the project 'Performing the Political: Public Pedagogy in Higher Music Education'. As Editor-in-Chief of the Finnish Journal of Music Education, she plays a pivotal role in shaping academic discourse. Her work extends beyond academia through RockHubs, a social enterprise she founded to create accessible intergenerational music communities.

• Educations: Doctoral degree in Music Education

Her research focuses on educational democracy, inclusion, policy analysis, and systems thinking in music education. Key themes include social justice, critical disability studies, gerontology, and sustainable aging through arts integration. Recent projects address transformative politics in music education, policy entrepreneurship, and intergenerational music practices.

Her articles from 2023-2025 highlight trends in policy advocacy, institutional transformation, and age-inclusive education. Notable contributions include frameworks for socially just spatial politics and critical rethinking of aging narratives in music education.

• Awards: Academy Research Fellow (2023-2027)

Laes advises on arts education policy through roles in the Finnish Association of Arts Education Research and the Finnish Observatory of Arts and Cultural Education. Her grants include funding from the Research Council of Finland and Wihuri Foundation.

Her social enterprise RockHubs exemplifies her commitment to community-driven music initiatives, fostering intergenerational collaboration and accessibility in urban settings.