WOMEX 2024 - Bursaries

Womex (Worldwide Music Expo) will take place in Manchester from 23 - 27 October 2024 and Creative Scotland are offering eight bursary places for music industry representatives to attend. Applications close at 5pm on 9 May 2024.

Womex (Worldwide Music Expo) will take place in Manchester from 23 - 27 October 2024 and Creative Scotland are offering eight bursary places for music industry representatives to attend.

Over 2,600 professionals (including 260 performing artists) come together every October from over 90 countries, making the event a key networking platform for the international music industry. Its musical spectrum ranges from the most traditional to the new global local underground, embracing folk, roots, jazz, local and diaspora cultures.

Creative Scotland’s presence at WOMEX is part of a UK partnership between UK and Ireland arts councils called Horizons. The UK and Ireland will host an area of trade fair stands at the conference where people can come and meet industry representatives and easily distinguish between each partner country’s offering.

"Attending WOMEX was an amazing first-time experience. I met countless people from across the globe and learnt so much from them. The networking opportunities were amazing, and the showcasing artists were phenomenal. Not only did I experience new music and artists, but I came away with possible exciting new collaborations with delegates from new territories in China and Brazil. I would strongly advise anyone who is involved in music and interested in developing their international networks, in whatever form that may be, to apply to the WOMEX bursary scheme to become a delegate at Manchester - you won't regret it." Blair Parham

Bursaries

This year, Creative Scotland is offering eight bursaries to those working in the sector to attend this event to build and strengthen their international networks.

All bursary recipients will receive:

  • A £500 contribution towards registration, travel and accommodation costs, to be booked by the recipient themselves
  • Inclusion in promotional material produced by Creative Scotland
  • Pre-event briefings and support, including connection with other UK and Ireland-wide delegates
  • Access support costs, as required

This open call bursary scheme will be building on two previous pilot years in 2022 and 2023.

"Attending conferences such as WOMEX is absolutely crucial for expanding networks and building crucial business connections. The WOMEX bursary made it possible for me to attend at an important time in the growth of my roster and my business."

How to apply

If you are interested in this opportunity then please read the guidelines document and then complete the application form. You should send your application to [email protected]

Deadline

Applications close at 5pm on 9 May 2024.

Decisions will be communicated by 17 May 2024. This is envisioned to be a competitive process with more applications than funds available.

Further questions and Access Support

If you have any questions then please email [email protected] or if you require access support then please visit Access Support | Creative Scotland for further information.

"I was lucky to receive a Creative Scotland bursary to attend WOMEX 2022. Having never attended any previous expos I would have been reluctant to risk limited funds from our charity, The Soundhouse Organisation, without knowing the benefits. Apart from connecting with members of the world music community, it was also an opportunity to see many acts perform live who had never before performed in Scotland. This facilitated a number of bookings for festivals and regular concerns I was programming. Other Scottish musicians were booked because of conversations I had with festival organisers. In all I feel that the days spent in Lisbon were extremely fruitful and I would recommend visiting this expo if you are a serious player in the music industry." Douglas Robertson