IN-PERSON London Heritages. Section A

Abstract

Coimbra, a historic university city renowned for its unique musical tradition of fado de Coimbra, welcomes around 2,000 Erasmus+ students annually, according to the Erasmus Student Network. This paper investigates the role of international students in shaping fado’s cultural and touristic dimensions, focusing on their unique position between tourists and locals. It examines how their participation in fado-related activities constitutes a form of anti-tourism, aligning with the broader framework of studying abroad as a quest for an anti-tourism experience (John Bodiger de Uriarte & Di Giovine 2020). The study explores Erasmus+ students’ role as active prosumers of fado, contributing to its co-creation in ways that distinguish them from typical tourists. Through ethnographic research—including participant observation, secondary data, and interviews with local stakeholders (such as representatives from the Erasmus Student Network Coimbra, a fado venue owners, and university choir members)—the paper highlights the transformative impact of Erasmus students on both the performative and social dimensions of fado. This includes their influence on local fado venues, university-affiliated organizations, and the transcultural narratives surrounding fado. By situating the co-creation of fado within the anti-tourism framework, this paper reveals how Erasmus students’ engagement challenges conventional dichotomies of tourist versus local. Engaging participatory approach, this research contributes to a better understanding of intangible cultural heritage as transcultural practice shaped by both local traditions and global academic mobility.