SEWEM – Sino-European Women Entrepreneurs in Music – is a networking and mentoring programme to promote the skills of European and Chinese women in the music and export sector, and to support equality.
It is funded by the European Commission.
SEWEM is also an experimental laboratory for the rapprochement of the music industries and relations between Europe and China. It will enable the creation and cross-border circulation of European, Chinese and transnational music.
The main objectives will be to foster sustainable and fruitful cooperation through mentoring; to create spaces for artistic encounters between Chinese and European music worlds; to use music as a tool for creation and cooperation, and to promote the discovery of history, art and different ways of thinking; and finally to support the knowledge of music markets and the export of European companies to China and more widely to Asia.
What is the SEWEM mentoring programme?
The mentoring programme begins with a kick-off event on the 18th and 19th of October in Lisbon (prior to the WOMEX conference) and provides long-term support for personal and career development of young professionals who identify themselves as women, trans or non-binary.
The programme consists of three pillars
- 1-on-1 meetings between mentee and mentor, for the organisation and content of which the participants themselves are responsible
- Group meetings on topics that are relevant to the participants (e.g. knowledge of the Chinese market, understanding of music export strategy, etc., which take place in the form of workshops)
- Exchange between European and Chinese participants with online networking session, and trade mission to China for selected participants
More info here.
SEWEM timeline
22.08 : Launch of the call for mentees
11.09 : End of the call
19.09 : Announcement of the laureates and pairs selection
18 & 19.10 : Kick-off event in Lisbon
From 20.10.2022 to end of March 2023 : at least 5 one-on-one mentor/mentee meetings and several group workshops
Spring/Summer 2023 : Online networking session with pairs + Chinese female music professionals
Participation in the programme is free for mentees. Every participant will get financial support of 200€ to travel to the meeting in Lisbon. Hotel rooms will be booked and paid directly by the SEWEM team. Please notice that the availability for the meeting in Lisbon is mandatory for participation in the programme.
article posted by:Gideon Elfgen, Piranha Arts