Peter Spaepen at an International Research Conference

From 9 to 11 September 2026, the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München hosted the conference, which focused on Music and Entrepreneurship. Researchers from a range of disciplines came together to discuss the impact of digitalisation, artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship on the music industry and the position of artists.

Spaepen presented his research project Tea Party – Revolution in Wonderland, exploring how musical theatre makers can take the genre back into their own hands, breaking away from its traditional association with large-scale commercial productions. The conference not only provided him with new knowledge and contacts, but also offered a fresh perspective on his research question. One idea in particular stayed with him: the DIY (Do It Yourself) attitude, not as a fallback when resources are limited, but as a deliberate artistic choice. Why should musical theatre always have to become bigger and more expensive? Small-scale productions, too, can be fully fledged artistic projects. "That DIY attitude is certainly not a lack of professionalism – quite the opposite. The handmade, the direct, the small-scale and the visible traces of the maker can, in fact, add artistic value."

“The revolution doesn't necessarily have to start on a grand scale. It can start with a handful of creators. With a notebook, a song, a homemade set, in a garage, for instance.” This is how Spaepen sums up the way the international exchange has sharpened his perspective on artistic entrepreneurship.

His participation illustrates how international research conferences give researchers the opportunity to test their ideas against different perspectives, forge new connections and return to their own research practice with fresh insights.