How We Work - International Musicological Society (IMS)

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The mission of the International Musicological Society (IMS) is to connect every musicologist to the world community of musicology by embracing the study of music in all its diversity and advancing musicological research across the globe in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration.

Governance

The IMS is organized into three divisions:

Governance

1. The General Assembly, which comprises every member of the society, has ultimate authority over the activities of the IMS.
2. The Directorium, which is akin to a governing board or council, is made up of elected representatives of various countries and regions, providing a vital link to members across the world.
3. The Bureau, which is equivalent to an executive board, consists of the president, past president, two vice presidents, the secretary general, the treasurer, and the executive officer. It manages the business of the society and, along with the Directorium, is responsible to the General Assembly.

Activity

The organization is active in three ways:
1. By meeting together: A society is about people. It is about the formation of relationships around common interests. The IMS is a place for such gatherings. As a society we gather every five years for an international congress where the general assembly takes place. There are also inter-congressional conferences organized jointly with other societies or in conjunction with meetings of the various IMS Regional Associations and IMS Study Groups. The IMS also provides a mentorship program, connecting young scholars with experienced academics.
2. By sharing news: The IMS publishes an annual newsletter to keep its members informed about the latest activities.
3. By showcasing scholarship: Acta Musicologica is the official peer-reviewed journal of the IMS. It provides a channel for the dissemination of research of international importance in different languages and is published semiannually.

Organization

The IMS achieves its mission of advancing musicological research and international collaboration in three ways. They can be described as the “depth, breadth, and height” of the society:

Organization

1. Depth—Foundational Resources
At its very foundation, the IMS supports what is known as the four Rs:

These four organizations provide the most comprehensive resources linked to music research. They are fundamental for musicological research, enabling our scholarship to grow in depth.

2. Breadth—Local Networks
The IMS supports a number of regional associations that meet at least once every two years. They provide a platform for the formation of local knowledge networks, collegial support, and scholarly collaborations.

Each regional association is distinct and brings an invaluable timbre to the “sound” of the IMS. Together, they enable the society to reach outwards, increasing its breadth as it embraces the world from the perspective of different localities.

3. Height—Research Hubs
The IMS supports a large number of study groups that connect scholars from across the world to explore a particular topic. These groups meet at least once every two years and form essential hubs for the dissemination of the latest research, generation of new ideas, and collaboration across continents. Building upon the research of many scholars, they enable the society to reach new heights.