Photo of Vanessa Reed

Vanessa Reed, Chief Executive of PRS Foundation - lead partner on the project

Photo: Ruth Kilpatrick

News

European project to champion women musicians

A drive to boost the recognition of women’s artistic and economic value is at the heart of an initiative that will help female artists showcase their work and collaborate at music industry festivals.

Liz Hill
2 min read

A European talent development programme is set to create new international opportunities for female artists and “innovators” to learn, collaborate and perform, following the announcement of a €200,000 award from the European Commission’s Creative Europe fund.

The Keychange programme will see partners in Estonia, Germany, Iceland, Spain, Sweden, Canada and the UK join forces to promote the role of women in music. The long-term goal of the initiative is to empower women to work together across European and international borders, and thereby “transform Europe’s music industry by accelerating recognition of women’s artistic and economic value”.

The lead partner is PRS Foundation, and Keychange will build on its experience of running the Women Make Music Fund in the UK.

The “like-minded European partners” believe the future of music will benefit from “a more balanced representation of women and men across all aspects of the industry.” 

35 female music creators and 30 “innovative industry professionals” will be offered opportunities to collaborate through a Creative Lab programme, and a digital platform will enable hundreds more to get involved with the project’s training programme and social media campaign. Other activities will include showcasing and networking at the partners’ music festivals, and a manifesto for change will be presented at a final event in Brussels at the European Parliament in 2019.

Vanessa Reed, Chief Executive of PRS Foundation said: “I’m delighted that we’ve succeeded as lead partner in our application to Creative Europe in spite of uncertainties posed by the UK’s decision to leave the European Union… Keychange’s focus on giving talented women access to international networks and new markets at critical stages in their career will help them realise their potential as future leaders of an industry that is ready for change.”

Helen Sildna, founder of Tallinn Music Week said, “There is a much needed change of key in the music industry and we believe that diversity is an essential tool to achieve this… We are convinced that more women and more fresh perspectives are the way forward not only for the music industry but for Europe in general.

“Brexit or not, Europe needs our creative input and we need to implement Keychange!”