The Mentorship Programme is an EU-funded initiative that aims to serve as an introduction to the music industry for young female composers and songwriters that are beginning to approach their careers, with the help of female role models and with the ultimate goal of enhancing gender equality within the sector. It has been initiated by AEC – European Association of Conservatoires under the “Supporting Female Artists initiative“,  and has jointly been developed by ECSA – European Composer and Songwriter Alliance and EJN – Europe Jazz Network. 

The ECSA-AEC 2023 Mentorship Programme is now open for applications. Female composers and songwriters are invited to apply, from which six (6) mentors and six (6) mentees will be selected. Candidates might be interviewed regarding their availability to attend the six (6)-month mentoring session, composed of 3 individual online meetings (one every two months) as well as two in-person events, should conditions permit (see below).  It is highly recommended that mentees use notes during each session. After completing the three sessions, both mentors and mentees will submit their final evaluation form which will serve as a basis for a final report on the programme.

Selection Process 

Submissions will be reviewed by the ECSA Diversity & Inclusion Working Group and the AEC Diversity, Inclusion & Gender Equality (DIGE) Working Group. Selected applicants will be notified by mid-December 2022.

Submission Process

Applications for the ECSA-AEC 2023 Mentorship Programme must be SUBMITTED ONLINE VIA THIS FORM by 11:59 PM (CET) 20 November, 2022, and include the following:

  1. Motivation statement (250 words max.)
  2. Special interests you have that might be helpful in matching mentors with mentees
  3. Biography and profile picture (for dissemination purposes)
  4. Links to music material (Spotify, SoundCloud, Vimeo, YouTube) and/or official website.

Applications missing any of the required materials will be disqualified.

Programme Timeline

15 September – 

20 November 2022

 Online application for mentors and mentees is open for two months.  
December 2022  Appointment of 6 (six) mentors and 6 (six) mentees by mid-December via email.
21 March 2023 Kick-off meeting in Brussels, during the ECSA Creators Conference 2023 with all AEC-ECSA mentors and mentees who receive guidelines and “goals form” as a basis for their one-on-one appointments. 
1 April – 

30 September 2023

 The mentorship sessions will run for 6 months, constituted by 3 individual online meetings, each taking place every 2 months. The sessions can be arranged after an agreement between the mentor and the mentee.
November 2024 Networking and dissemination event in the frame of the AEC Annual Congress 2024 (date and location to be announced), with a presentation of the outcomes of the two mentorship programmes by AEC, ECSA, and EJN mentors and mentees. Certificates of participation will be distributed during the event.

 

For any clarifications about the programme and/or the application process, please contact tatiana.papastoitsi@composeralliance.org and alfonsoguerra@aec-music.eu.