project overview

New Skills for New Artists (NS4NA) addressed an identified gap in the training of musicians and similar performers. The aim of the Erasmus+ KA2 funded project was to create training programmes in digital and entrepreneurial skills for new musicians and performers. The programmes, with comprehensive and interdisciplinary modules, focus on digital, communications, entrepreneurial and business skills.

PROJECT DETAILS

The advent of information technology, where the market place for music and performances has now become global, has fundamentally altered the music industry. Similarly, the marketing of music, which was paper-based less than three decades ago, is now mainly through internet based media technologies.

Currently, education and training in music and the performing arts is based on nurturing artistic skills, for example, mastering a musical instrument. However, success in this field is now as dependent on technological and business skills, and education and training should incorporate these transversal skills.

New Skills for New Artists (NS4NA) addressed this identified gap in the training of musicians and similar performers. The aim of the Erasmus+ KA2 funded project was to create training programmes in digital and entrepreneurial skills for new musicians and performers.

The project also aimed to develop a standardised lifelong learning training programme and to promote innovative practices and entrepreneurship education in music education as well as the creation of new training and learning modules.

The project's overall outcomes were aimed at:

• Increasing digital skills of musicians towards the production and distribution of their work;
• Increasing business and marketing skills of musicians in order to improve the sustainability of their self-employment initiatives and projects;
• Promoting innovative practices in music education in general and entrepreneurship education - in particular, promoting structured cross-border cooperation;
• Enhancing quality and relevance of the learning offer in musical education through the development of new training and learning modules in business and entrepreneurial skills and
• Increasing employability and earning potential for musicians in general.

The main expected result was a standardised training programme, available under Open Educational Resources (OER) standards and replicable in any European institution offering training in performing arts or business skills.

The project partnership strongly complemented the sector needs, with the participation of two music conservatories, an entrepreneurship centre of excellence and a private sector research partner, with strong experience in technological learning and the development of the Cultural and Creative Industries. Together, these partners researched and developed training modules focusing on transferring additional new skills to artists to better equip them to become self-sustainable in a fast changing environment.

The 30 month project kicked-off in Madrid on November 21, 2019.

OUTPUTS

After running a benchmarking exercise, the team developed an innovative curriculum and piloted it twice with over 60 students in 3 countries. The New Skills 4 New Artists team then developed a series of guidelines for music educators aiming to teach aspects of the course to their students to support the professional prospects of musicians. These guidelines are licensed under Creative Commons, which means they are free to download and use. Along with the guidelines, a series of slide shows are also available for teachers. The Guidelines and Slideshows are below the Multiplier Event.

Multiplier event

Hosted by the Hincks Centre, the NS4NA Multiplier event took place online February 17, 2022. Colleagues and Partners from Ireland and Spain presented and shared the project origin, pedagogical approaches, outputs, feedback and manuals during the event. Led by Dr. Niall O’Leary, Research Fellow with the Hincks Centre, the event discussed the intellectual outputs from the project with a wider audience.

Guidelines

Click on the image to view/download the Guidelines.

Slide Shows

Click on the images to view/download the Slide Shows.

TRAIN THE TRAINER COURSE - Entrepreneurship FOR CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

If you are interested in taking part in a Train the Trainer course in Entrepreneurship for Creative Industries, please complete the Expression of Interest form below. More information will be available shortly and we will advise registered individuals.

partner locations

Fundacion Albeniz (Escuela de Musica “Reina Sofia”), Madrid is the Lead with project partners from:

• Munster Technological University (Hincks Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence) - Cork, Ireland;
• Erasmushogeschool Brussel (EHB) (School of Arts Koninklijk Conservatorium) - Brussels, Belgium;
• Grupo DEX (International Cultural Cooperation and Development of CCIs) - Gijon, Spain.

https://escuelasuperiordemusicareinasofia.es/en/new-skills-4-new-artists

Disclaimer: This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.