Venus Fest Announces Summer Keynote presentations and Mentorship Program

Venus Fest is pleased to announce summer Keynote presentations and mentorship program open to developing emerging music industry professionals as well as artists. Keynote Presentations are free and open to the public. Hosted by platinum-selling singer, songwriter, performer, international recording artist, multiple Juno award winner and celebrated television actress and author, Jully Black, American musician and author Ezra Furman, and artist – creator and communicator of music and of movement, of pictures, poetry and prose iskwē, the presentations will be available via the Venus Fest YouTube channel and will have closed captioning.

Selected participants of the mentorship program will receive an honorarium and the opportunity to attend one-on-one ongoing sessions with one of our mentors for an hour a week for eight weeks. Industry mentors include Katie Stelmanis (Austra), Alanna Stuart (Bonjay) Tao-Ming Lau (Blue Crane Agency)  and more. In addition, selected participants will have a chance to connect with each other via peer-peer sessions, other bi-weekly and will hear presentations from keynote speakers throughout the program. Applications are open until June 21st. The mentorship program is open for application to everyone, and Venus Fest strongly encourages Ontario based individuals who have experienced barriers in the music industry. Full list of industry mentors below.

Venus Fest founder Aerin Fogel explains:

“The Venus Fest Mentorship Program is designed to create a stronger system of support for a group of developing artists and aspiring industry members. Due to the systemic barriers that many of these individuals have faced, they may lack the framework, opportunity, and experience needed to move deeper into their careers. By pairing them with established artists and industry leaders who can support them in their goals and help develop their skills, we hope to bridge some of the gaps for them and build strong relationships between participants. Mentoring relationships are also incredibly special and often life-long connections that we are proud to help facilitate.”

Artist and industry mentors:
Alanna Stuart (Bonjay)
Katie Stelmanis (Austra)
Zaki Ibrahim
Tasha the Amazon
Tao-Ming Lau (Blue Crane Agency)
Michelle Cable (Panache Booking)
Erin Carroll (Cadence Music Group)
Laurel Stearns (LSS / Primary Wave)

Keynote presentations:
Jully Black Weds July 14 at 7PM EST
Ezra Furman August 4th 7PM EST
iskwē August 18th 7PM EST

*Venus Fest will return in the fall of 2021. Stay tuned for programming details in the upcoming months.

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