WE:SHAPE,
RE-IMAGINE, & RE-SHAPE
OUR MUSIC COMMUNITY
IT'S TIME
TO
TAKE ACTION.
In the time of isolation and disconnection; In the time of unequal access to financial resources; in the time of institutional discriminations and the incompetence of our music industry to recognize diversity and adapt to musicians with the different social and cultural background; in the time that the educational system continues to discard diversity; We shape our network to take action.
WE:Shape aims to bring together musicians from all genres in order to create a support system for freelancers who are the subject of institutional discriminations on the basis of race, gender, class, ethnicity, age, ability, religion, and sexuality both in the industry and education system.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF DIVERSITY?
How are you encouraging your music community to become more diverse?
DIVERSITY IS NOT OUR PROBLEM BUT OUR STRENGTH
WE:Shape aims to start polylogues around diversity and raise awareness of the unacceptable working conditions of music makers and performers. We shape connections to fight the isolation; We shape polylogues when we are silenced; We shape demands for recognition when we are discriminated against and neglected for so long. To allow for the exploitation of creative work has become the entry ticket to industry for independent musicians. As a result, most professionals in the music industry are hardly surviving.
Activism is part of our art.
WE:Shape aims to demand and take affirmative actions to provide better working conditions for its network.
It all starts with shaping our community!
#WE:ASK
What is the statistical overview of women, LGBTQ+ community, people of color, people with an immigration background, people with disabilities, religious minorities, and different age groups working within your institution?
#WE:ASK for transparency.
OUR GOALS
WE:Shape not only aims to build a foundation for the underrepresented musicians, musical cultures and music styles in the Austrian music industry and education, but also to push for more diversification in positions of power as well as decision-making processes related to our music community to make sure the system becomes inclusive and sustainable.
We would like to create a neutral platform to strengthen the network among musicians working in different music styles. We plan to connect musicians with industry professionals and educators such as journalists, festival and concert organizers, labels and agencies, music educators, etc., to openly discuss political and cultural discourses related to our music industry and academia.
ACTIVITIES
MONTHLY PODCASTS
We will conduct interviews with active members of the music community and discuss the political and cultural aspects of the music industry.
WEBLOG AND ONLINE MAGAZINE
We will create a platform for storytelling to share our experiences, observations, thoughts, and concerns about our working conditions through our stories.
WORKSHOPS, MEET-UPS AND DISCUSSIONS
We will host regular gatherings and discussion groups to discuss the issues and to collectively define our industry.
MUSIC EVENTS & SHOWCASES
We will organize music workshops and forums on different forms of musical expressions, and celebrate our diverse community through music events and showcases.
