Deadline: July 14, 2023 5:00 PM EDT.
OneBeat Ghana Fellowship Application 2023
OneBeat Ghana will bring together a cohort of leading young musician entrepreneurs from Ghana, Nigeria and the U.S. for an intensive 2-week residency in Ghana to exchange and build strategies for stronger artist communities and creative economies in the region.
Fellows will participate in skill shares and discussions, creative exercises, workshops led by guest artists while working to develop project proposals. In today’s rapidly shifting music industry, musicians need to function not simply as artists, but as creative entrepreneurs to succeed. Musicians in these areas require systems of support in order to build stronger artistic communities. OneBeat Ghana will bring together a cohort of musician leaders who are leading the charge to build stronger creative economies in their region and support the development of innovative artist-led ventures and socially informed projects. Musicians are asked to apply with specific project ideas to work on during the program. At the end of the residency, Fellows will be asked to develop a pitch or plan for the next steps of their projects, which will be presented in Accra.
OneBeat Ghana’s Artistic Director is OneBeat alumnus Poetra Asantewa, a poet, organizer and founder of arts collective Black Girls Glow, based in Accra, Ghana. OneBeat Ghana serves as the pilot version of a new model of OneBeat Abroad exchange, focused on creative entrepreneurship and strategies to address issues faced by global musicians.
Eligibility
Age Applicants must be 19 or older by the time of the program (November 6, 2023) and 35 or younger at the end of the program (November 20, 2023).
Eligible Countries and Territories Ghana, Nigeria, United States
Important Information for Applicants: OneBeat Ghana will bring together a cohort of leading young musician entrepreneurs from Ghana (and the West Africa region, depending on additional funding) for an intensive residency to exchange and build strategies for stronger artist communities and creative economies in the region.
Musicians from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, with or without formal musical training. We welcome music of all genres, including but not limited to: traditional/folk, hip hop, experimental, electronic, jazz, classical, sound design, beat-making, multimedia art, or any combination of these styles. In addition to full-time professional musicians, we also invite adventurous musicians who double as community organizers, instrument builders, writers, videographers, musicologists, educators, storytellers, dancers, shadow-puppeteers, and more.
What you should know about OneBeat: Collaboration is central. OneBeat offers musicians the opportunity to collaborate on new projects. OneBeat is socially engaged. We are looking for musicians who have a strong commitment to their communities and who are seeking new ways to engage in youth development, music education, music therapy, conflict resolution, a global dialogue through music, and other ways of working towards more egalitarian and democratic societies. OneBeat is a FREE program (but not a paid gig).
Benefits
The OneBeat program covers all Fellows’ travel, transportation, food, and lodging. They also offer a modest stipend. While we are not able to pay fees, OneBeat offers Fellows a chance to create new works , establish lifelong musical partnerships and friendships, learn new marketable skills,, and develop professional connections.
Audio/Video Application Materials: Applicants should plan to write about their proposed creative projects and their musical background.
Applicants will be asked to submit 3-5 samples of their work (both audio and video are accepted).
OneBeat Ghana is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, & produced by Bang on a Can’s Found Sound Nation with additional support from the U.S. Embassy in Ghana and the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria.