Island Studies Interational Conference 2026

From the 20-29th of June I was fortunate enough to join the Island Studies International Conference in the Philippines. I had a fantastic time exploring Tacloban. I presented a paper which was part of the Reclaiming and Reimagining Island Heritage panel. Here I presented my work on Reimagining Guernsey's cultural heritage through creative practice, reflecting on how I work with archive materials to create my work. Alongside using heritage materials through song, intangible cultural heritage and autoethnography. I created a flow chart which highlights one way in which I work with heritage materials through the creative process. For my work at the conference, I was awarded the New Voices in Island Studies award.

Reimagining Guernsey's Cultural Heritage through Creative Practice.

Abstract:

How can contemporary music reshape our views on cultural heritage? This paper explores the interdisciplinary relationship between musical creative practice, intangible cultural heritage (ICH), and language preservation. As a composer and performer from Guernsey, my work draws on autoethnographic research from my island identity as well as local history, myths, and language (Guernésiais) that feature either directly or in more abstract forms. I will focus on two works, one of which is currently being composed, demonstrating the creative process from archival research and compositional research to performance. This paper aims to showcase how interdisciplinary, practice-based research can re-engage with island heritage for future generations, fostering new dialogues between island studies, heritage preservation, and the arts. Furthermore, it aims to highlight the importance of re-engaging with island heritage to promote, preserve, and reimagine materials for future generations.

Keywords: heritage, intangible, music, oral tradition, contemporary, composition

From January 2026, I had been collaborating with Filipino artist Aaron Kaiser Garcia on a work titled From My Shore to Your Shore. Over a series of online calls, we worked together on how we could create a piece of work that embodies our cultural heritage from different islands, bringing together perspectives about our heritage through the body and music. We created a work which featured improvisatory, breath- flow movements in flute melodies alongside traditional dance movements. The work highlighted the importance of human participation in cultural heritage, reflecting on our islands as a source of inspiration but also within us. We are shaped by our islands - how can we reflect this in the work we create?

The performance was followed by a workshop focussing on soundwalking and deep listening. Using Pauline Oliveros' manifesto of Quantum Listening we invited participants to engage on a soundwalk, listening intently and closely to the smaller sounds, linking together with world listening creating a deeper understanding of the hum of life.

We then invited participants to embody the sounds through movement, creating gestures on a small piece of card, which were collaged together to create a graphic score.

From My Shore to Your Shore: A collaboration between Emily Linane and Aaron Kaiser Garcia

A collaborative lecture-workshop-performance exploring island living and heritage through the shore as a site of memory, connection, and cultural exchange. Facilitated by Aaron Kaiser Garcia (Philippines) and Emily Linane (Guernsey/Newcastle), participants will engage in a lecture, performance, sound walk, and graphic score-making, culminating in a work-in-progress performance that transforms participants’ responses into movement, music, and sound. Through collective creation, the session examines island heritage, resilience, and embodied knowledge.

At the end of our three conference days, we had an amazing Leyte and Samar tour, which included mat weaving in the Saob cave in Basey, Samar. I hope my mini vlog highlights some of the incredible experience I was able to partake in.

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