APTALIKO (2020) Mapping the community of musicians active in the field of folk culture.
APTALIKO’s research is the first attempt to map the community of artists active in Greece who are associated with the Greek musical idioms, as well as those of the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean. The data collected refers to the reality of musicians both before the first lockdown in March 2020 and immediately afterwards. The survey was conducted between 10 August and 5 September 2020. A structured electronic questionnaire was used, which was distributed with various ways to achieve the widest possible dissemination. We received 1112 completed responses and all regions of the country, age groups and both genders were adequately represented. This initiative was triggered by the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus pandemic, which severely affected and brought to light chronic problems, both economic and social, of the community active in the folk culture. The aim of this research is to highlight the needs of the community and its role both in the musical education and dissemination of these idioms, and in the creative economy of the communities in which its members operate. By examining their working conditions, we want to highlight market practices and thus create the possibility of proposing specific ways to improve the working conditions of musicians in the physical and digital environment, which is of unprecedented importance due to the specific conditions created by the pandemic.