SEWEM at WOMEX 23
Special Projects
Drawing on 30 years of expertise and our extensive global networks, we actively engage in diverse projects that promote musical diversity and nurture sustainability of cultural sectors both local and global scales.
- NEXT EDITION
- 21-25 OCT 2026
- Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
We have a proven track record of producing and consulting on events of different shapes, on different continents, including training sessions and capacity building programmes, conferences, showcase festivals, cultural markets and networking platforms, education and IT projects.
Some of our recent projects and collaborations:
- European Projects:
- UPBEAT - The European Showcase Platform for World Music
- MOST – Bridge for Balkan Music
- SEWEM - Sino European Women Entrepreneurs in Music
- AFROPOLLINATION – Music + Dance – A TURN Project from the German Cultural Foundation, in partnership with Nyege Nyege, UG
- Mobility Advocacy Summit at WOMEX 23 a joint initiative with On The Move and Tamizdat
International Projects:
We are also proud to have contributed to the following events in various parts of the world:
- IMEX – Indonesian Music Expo; 2023 ‐ ongoing
- Porto Musical in Recife, Brazil; 2005 ‐ ongoing
- Primera Linea in Havana, Cuba; 2016 ‐ 2020
- Circulart in Medellin, Colombia; 2015 ‐ 2020
- Atlantic Music Expo in Praia, Cabo Verde; 2012 ‐ 2017
- Sound of the Xity in Beijing, China; 2014 ‐ 2016
- AMFEST Expo in Lagos, Nigeria; 2018
Please contact us in order to find out the details or apply.
Email consult@piranha-arts.com
UPBEAT
UPBEAT is a European platform for showcase festivals coordinated by Hangvető, co-funded by the European Union. The initiative connects festivals, professionals, and artists in world and roots music, fostering diversity, professional growth, and sustainability across the music sector.
Starting from scratch, the platform built up a solid basis counting MENT, Tallinn Music Week, Budapest Ritmo, PIN, and Babel Music XP among its members. In 2025, UPBEAT enters its new phase with 20 members and 14 associated partners, a number expected to grow as the network expands.
The mission remains unchanged: to support emerging world music talents, strengthen the European showcase ecosystem, and promote cultural diversity against the industry’s homogenizing trends.
Drawing from the experiences of its first three years, UPBEAT relaunches with a refreshed visual identity and brand-new programmes, reaffirming its position as the first European showcase platform dedicated to world music.
The Best New Talent Award also carries on. Each year, 10 shortlisted artists will be voted on by the public, with the winner receiving performance opportunities, video production support, and enhanced visibility across Europe.
Consultancy - WOMEX World Tour
IMEX – Indonesian Music Expo in the magical setting of Ubud in Bali, the newly established IMEX presents the diversity of Indonesian music from traditional to modern around a free showcase festival, conferences, workshops and speed meetings.
indonesianmusicexpo.com
The 'oldest' WOMEX collaboration event started in 2005, Porto Musical has become a major and friendly gateway for the Brazilian music market as well as a networking platform for music movers and shakers coming from different regions of Brazil. It takes place in the very buzzing and unique set up of Pernambuco's Carnival preparations.
portomusical.com.br
Cuba is an island full of music, which has pleased many ears and hips worldwide. The country's formidable music scene is now also home to an emerging, ambitious music business. Primera Linea international music forum offers the opportunity to meet local players, get an inside view behind the stage curtains on sightseeing tours dedicated to music and find out more about opportunities for foreign artists in Cuba.
cuba-primera-linea.com
Circulart, the platform for all music from Latin America, is a space for reflection, attended by a great mix of young audience and professionals from all over Latin America, dynamic and vibrant continent in the global music landscape. Along with conferences and showcases, a strong part of Circulart is its heavy rotation Business Meetings.
circulart.org
AME – Atlantic Music Expo: We have been involved in the concept and making of Atlantic Music Expo and its first five editions. AME has established itself as a music professionals’ meeting for Cabo Verde, Africa, and all sides of the Atlantic around conferences, showcases and an open air trade fair.
Sound of the Xity: Established in 2011, SOTX provided professionals with an unparalleled access point to both China's flourishing music scene and the international industry. It affirmed itself as the leading gateway between China and the international music world.
A project we ran in 2017: the musical scenes of Lusophone African countries are highly dynamic and creative, especially in the field of urban and dance music. The project LusAfro increased the profile of musicians from Lusophone Africa in Germany and beyond, and promoted artistic and professional exchange between them and German artists and professionals. Funded by the TURN Fund of German Federal Cultural Foundation.
lusafro.org