Last week, Toronto’s Small World Music (an incredible organization celebrating cultural diversity and showcasing a range of local, domestic, and international talent to audiences across the GTA) announced the 2021-2022 edition of their eMERGEnce artist incubator. Small World’s signature program creates and offers opportunities for professional growth for newcomer, refugee and equity-deserving emerging artists from a diverse array of musical backgrounds, dedicated to career sustainability and integration into Toronto’s music landscape and the Canadian cultural infrastructure.
Last year, eMERGEnce saw 25 participants, the formation of six new bands, 37 performances with over 112K views, nearly 400K people reached and 33 professional development, mentorship and networking activities. A cohort of 25 artists, chosen through an application process, will gain a toolkit of business skills, contacts and industry knowledge that will help them build careers in the Canadian cultural sector. The experience has incredible impact on artists’ careers – hear first-hand from members of the 2020 program below, and find a sample of the workshops offered from last year’s instalment here.,
Small World Music is seeking applications for the approximate nine-month program (September 2021 – June 2022) that will bring together a group of 20-25 musicians from a diverse array of musical backgrounds. Applications are due by August 15, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
The online application form is the first step in the process, and successful applicants will then be invited to online interviews between August 16 – 27, 2021. Notifications of results will be sent by September 1, 2021. Find all eligibility criteria here.
All successful applicants must be available to attend the meet and greet session planned for the second week of September in Toronto, Ontario, as well as the first artists’ retreat from September 10-13, 2021, inclusive.
eMERGEnce will serve artists with a plethora of activities, including:
- Workshops: Expert-led workshops on understanding the funding and venue landscapes, management, content-creation, contract negotiation, self-promotion, social media, etc.
- Panels: Featuring industry professionals and artists discussing topics including: benefits and challenges of working with agents/managers/publicists, newcomer success stories.
- Artist Residencies & Jam Sessions: Dedicated ‘getaways’ where participants can interact, socialize and learn from each other. These creative incubators will also provide studio space for new repertoire development and recording.
- Mentorship: Establish relationships with mentors in significant positions across the landscape to gain expert guidance and advice.
- Networking: Connecting artists to one another, and to other industry professionals who provide support and advice, as well as conference attendance opportunities.
- Promotional Materials: Providing materials including photography and bio-writing services in the quest for ‘export-readiness’ and EPKs to be used to gain future opportunities.
Registration for eMERGEnce is now open – apply here and visit the website to learn more.