Call for Submissions: sākihiwē Export Accelerator

Deadline: Thursday, January 18, 2024 at 11:59 PM PST

Aboriginal Music Manitoba (AMM) is launching a new pilot project, entitled the sākihiwē Export Accelerator, with Manitoba Music to explore virtual solutions for export-ready Indigenous solo artists and bands/groups who want to build audiences for their music outside of Canada.

The project will run for two years, 2024 and 2025, and give 10 Indigenous artists/groups who live in Canada a chance to film performance videos, learn about music festivals and concert series in four countries (Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada), schedule online meetings with music presenters from those countries, and provide feedback about the project.

First Nation, Inuit, and Métis solo artists and bands/groups who live in Canada are invited to submit an application to participate.

All submissions must be sent online through a Google form. Email, fax, and physical submissions will not be accepted.

Please note the following:

Participants will be confirmed by February 29, 2024.

Participants will be given a budget to arrange their own performance video filming and editing in a recording studio or concert venue in their home community/city with professionally recorded, mixed, and mastered audio. 

The performance videos will be released on YouTube and Facebook by June 16, 2024 and participants will be able to use them for any purposes.

The project will provide a social media strategist to create ad campaigns that support each performance video.

All solo artists and band/group leaders will be required to attend panel discussions over Zoom from August 26 - 29, 2024.

All solo artists and band/group leaders will be required to participate in one-on-one online meetings with the music festivals and concert series that make the most sense for their music from September 3 - 13, 2024.

All solo artists and band/group leaders will be required to participate in four days of project evaluation, networking, and export training in Winnipeg from February 26 - March 1, 2025 (flights, accommodations, and local ground transportation expenses will be provided for participants from outside of Winnipeg and each participant will receive a participation fee of $500 along with lunch each day).

International touring is the main goal of this project, so we encourage parents and caregivers to develop childcare plans or Elder care plans before applying (this can be a plan to take loved ones on tour with you or supports that ensure their wellbeing while you're touring).

All conversations and materials will be held in English.

If you have any needs to make this application more accessible to you, please contact agreyeyes@gmail.com and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Applicants must have the following:

A plan to return to Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom multiple times in the next 10 years.

At least 60 minutes of original music, or traditional music that has been originally-arranged, released on streaming services or a plan to release more music to meet that threshold in 2024-25.

Valid passport(s) and the ability to work in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Mexico.

Access to a credit card that can be used to purchase flights, check into hotels, and rent vehicles in Mexico or overseas.

Indigenous participants:

For the purposes of this project, we define Indigenous solo artists as First Nation, Inuit, or Métis recording artists who release original music under their legal name or a singular stage name. 

For the purposes of this project, at least half of the people who appear in the latest promotional photos for an Indigenous duo or band/group must be First Nation, Inuit, or Métis.

Additional information:

Please email Alan Greyeyes (agreyeyes@gmail.com) if you have any questions.

Aboriginal Music Manitoba (AMM) acknowledges the Government of Canada, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Manitoba Arts Council, and the Winnipeg Arts Council for their financial support.