What is the Keychange talent development programme?
Keychange supports women and gender expansive Artists and Innovators to take part in an extensive talent development programme of showcases, panels, workshops, mentoring and creative sessions. The year-long programme takes place at 13 festivals across Europe and Canada, including 2 full network meetups in February and September. As well as exporting opportunities, the Keychange talent development programme helps participants to get to the next stage in their career through targeted training. Our partnership with shesaid.so on our we.grow mentoring programme helps to build confidence and address any barriers they might face with personal one-on-one support; inspiring and empowering participants with direct access to experienced role models. Our Capacity Building Programme offers bespoke panels, webinars, workshops and group sessions featuring speakers from organisations such as Ableton, The Orchard, Twitch, Music Declares Emergency, TikTok and more.
Why should I apply?
Have you experienced barriers because of your gender? Do you need to build your confidence and your contacts list? Keychange supports exceptional talent from across the world to the next stage in their career. We recruit 74 participants in each cohort and provide them with the opportunities they need to progress. We can help you realise your potential and become the leaders of tomorrow.
What do I get as a Keychange Participant
Each participant gets a travel bursary so they can attend at least 2 international Keychange events. At these events they will have access to a bespoke training programme featuring inspirational speakers and development opportunities. In partnership with shesaid.so, each participant will have the option to take part in the online peer-to-peer mentoring programme, we.grow. As well as being part of our international movement for equality, with new connections to partners, sponsors, signatories and Ambassadors, a significant part of the programme is engaging with (and collaborating with) the 74 participants who are part of your cohort. The more you put into Keychange, the more you will get from it!
What is an ‘Artist’ and what is an ‘Innovator’?
An ‘Artist’ as anyone writing and performing their own music. An ‘Innovator’ is anyone working in music who doesn’t write and/or perform their own music. You cannot apply as an Artist and an Innovator, so if you are unsure what you should apply as, contact info@keychange.eu.
What are we looking for in Artists?
Innovative, emerging artists, with a distinctive and original talent that would contribute to the breadth and excellence of the Keychange programme.
The ability to write and perform your own music to facilitate the showcasing element of this project
Be ready to export, including:
– Having a strong following in your country, with the potential to break into other markets
– Have the beginnings of a professional support team working with you to support business development
What are we looking for in Innovators?
Professionals pushing the boundaries of music industry practice; demonstrating interest in new business models and innovative ways of working.
Have a growing track record, with at least 4 years experience working in music.
Be able to demonstrate your commitment to supporting emerging artists from all backgrounds, have an interest in enabling talented women and gender expansive people to flourish and in influencing change across the industry.
Be working with music whether from within the industry or another creative sector (tech, audiovisual, design) which intersects with new music business models.
Both Artists and Innovators will need to:
Be able to demonstrate why participating in this project would have a transformative impact at this stage in your career.
Confirm your availability for participating in Year 2 of the project (2022). Participants will be required to attend one full network meet-up in February and one full network meet-up in September at Reeperbahn Festival (approx. 3 days each). As well as this, in the application you will be able to state availability for our festival partners and you may be selected to showcase at or attend one or more.
Be able to demonstrate your need for financial support, what you would get out of the network and why you want to be part of Keychange.
Submit information about your career to date which gives us a baseline from which to evaluate progress at the end of the project.
Be legally based in one of the Keychange partner countries: Germany, UK, Sweden, Spain, Estonia, France, Italy, Norway, Ireland, Canada, Poland or Iceland.
Women and people of gender minorities are eligible. Keychange has an inclusive approach to equality and aims to support all underrepresented genders. See our FAQs page for more information.
Is there any specific criteria for my country?
Yes. You can apply to Keychange if you are based in Canada, Estonia, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden or the UK. This is because we have partners in each of these countries. If you want to become a partner and support Keychange participation in your own country, go here. Otherwise, we will release country specific criteria when applications open.
What monetary support options are there?
Each participant will get a baseline travel bursary. We allocate extra funds to participants who are based in Canada (as they need to travel further), to participants with childcare needs, and to participants with access needs.
How do I apply?
We have now recruited participants in 2019, 2021 and 2022. Applications to the programme are currently closed.
What’s the selection process and next steps?
The partners in your country assess your applications based on the quality of your work, your application, and if they think now is the right time for you to be involved in the programme. Applications are scored and a shortlist of applicants are taken through to the live decision panel. Our festival partners then select the applications that they would like to come along to their festival.
ApplICATIONS TO THe KEYCHANGE PROGRAMME ARe CURRENTLY CLOSED
