Music Norway signs Keychange Pledge Agreement
Keychange aims to make festivals around the world more diverse through incentives, talent development, open discussions and collaboration between festivals. The signatories commit themselves to reach a 50/50 gender balance by 2022.
Written by Tina Brodal,
Music Norway recently signed up to the Keychange initiative, an international gender equality campaign which invests in emerging talent whilst encouraging festivals, conferences and a growing range of music organizations and institutions to sign a pledge to include at least 50% women and under-represented genders in their programming, staffing and beyond.
The initiative is led by Reeperbahn Festival, PRS Foundation and Musikcentrum Öst, supported by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.
Some of the elements Music Norway pledges to achieve are:
- Having (or maintaining) at least 50% women and gender minorities in any training / programmes arranged by Music Norway
- Having at least 50% women and gender minorities on any panels or debates arranged by Music Norway
- For any activities requiring a jury, ensuring that the jury has at least 50% women and gender minority members
Signatories are encouraged to implement their pledge in a way that is most relevant to their respective organization by the year 2022.
Music icon Mari Boine, who has inspired indigenous artists the world over, Samsaya, and AURORA have been announced as Norwegian Keychange Ambassadors.
Last year, Oslo World and Music Norway hosted Keychange in Jordan. The visit was in relation to the Norwegian Royal Family visiting Jordan for the first time on their 50th State Visit.
Keychange is led by Reeperbahn Festival, PRS Foundation and Musikcentrum Öst, supported by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union, in partnership with Tallinn Music Week, Iceland Airwaves, BIME, Oslo World, Linecheck/Music Innovation Hub, Ireland Music Week, SACEM, Sound City, Way Out West, Spring Break, MaMA Festival, MUTEK and Breakout West.
