Call for Applicants: WOMEX 2013

Connect ZA invites professionals working within the music industry to apply to attend Music Showcase at the World Music Expo taking place from the 23rd-27th October 2013 in Cardiff.

 The British Council’s Music Showcase programme is designed to combine the opportunity for music practitioners and contacts to see a wide range of UK artists and music performances. We also offer networking, learning and sharing opportunities for music programmers, festival managers, independent label managers and music managers. We will introduce them to our work and create opportunities to build relationships with UK counterparts directly, see UK artists, network and get a sense of the UK market.

Applicants who are chosen to go will receive funding which will cover flights (Johannesburg/Cape Town – London), accommodation (four nights), local transports (airport transfer, return train to Cardiff), delegate pass, and visa costs .Grants are for individuals working within the live music environment; managers, promoters, producers, agents, and other music industry operators. For your application to be considered you must:

•Be established in South Africa

• Be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the project, not acting as an intermediary

• Articulate how you would meet the following objectives with your visit:

Developing young audiences, artists and arts professionals aged 18-35. We want to work with the new generation of creatives and audiences who have spent their whole adult life in the new democracy and now have the chance to shape and influence the arts. We will work with a series of strategic partnerships with like-minded, market-leaders in youth programming, supporting the next generation of UK and South African artists and arts professionals.
Working digitally, building sustainable, innovative digital platforms. We aim to deliver innovative projects online creating platforms for experimentation, collaboration and information-sharing. This will be delivered through a series of focused media partners to develop unique and engaging content.
Increasing access to the arts. We are interested in reaching a diverse new audience and presenting work in the public and digital realms inhabited by young people. This will often involve working outside of traditional or established channels. The objective is to improve access and diversify audiences for the arts.
Challenging perceptions. Working with new young talent from within the contemporary creative scenes in the UK and South Africa we hope to share new voices and perspectives.
The mandatory attachments of every application are:

• Evidence that you are a musician or music professional (such as press coverage, website links, evidence of prizes, public appearances or residencies, CV, etc.).

Download the application form here and submit to the address listed. Submission deadline is Friday 23rd August 2013. No late or incomplete applications will be considered.

For more information visit www.womex.com/