SHOWCASE SCOTLAND @ CELTIC CONNECTIONS

Showcase Scotland is a 5-day showcase and international trade-fair that takes place annually during the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow. The 2023 event will be a chance for musicians and their management teams to network with international music industry professionals and to develop their careers and businesses. It follows Showcase Scotland 2022, which featured digital showcases by 6 Welsh acts at the Cymru Wales Spotlight. 

 

Celtic Connections is a major annual folk, roots and world music festival that celebrates Celtic music and its connections to cultures around the world, held in venues across Glasgow during January.

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IS SHOWCASE SCOTLAND FOR ME/MY GROUP?

This is a valuable opportunity to showcase your music to leading music industry professionals including festival bookers, venues and agents from around the world who specialise in folk, roots and world music that celebrates Celtic music and its connections to cultures across the globe. Showcase Scotland’s focus is on contemporary folk and traditional music genres, and we’re keen to hear from a wide range of artists and living traditions, especially:

• artists working in the Welsh language

• artists of the Global Majority

• disabled artists or those with illnesses (mental or physical)

• artists from economically disadvantaged, excluded and minoritised communities

• artists involved in innovative cross-genre collaborations

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WHAT'S THE SELECTION PROCESS?

Applications received will be considered by a panel of industry professionals and advisors from a wide range of communities and professional backgrounds. (The names of the panel members will be available once they are confirmed). The panel will assess each application against the criteria and will finalise a shortlist of around 6 acts. This shortlist will be submitted to the Artistic Director of Celtic Connections who will then select 3 acts to appear as Showcase performances.

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WHAT DO THE SUCCESSFUL ARTISTS GET? 

The successful artists will have a paid performance at Celtic Connections and will also perform at a Wales showcase event specifically for the music industry delegates attending Showcase Scotland. 

There’s a range of networking opportunities throughout the showcase days with industry professionals and other artists.

 

Travel, accommodation and per diems will be provided. We will also consider access costs and childcare costs if these are barriers to selected artists taking part.

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ARTIST DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (ADP)

With funding support from ACW/WAI, Tŷ Cerdd, FOCUS Wales and Trac Cymru have collaborated to deliver a development programme for 15 artists/acts who applied for Showcase Scotland 2022 – providing mentoring, networking and bursaries. We are investigating the possibility of / appetite for an ADP for selected applicants to the 2023 event and will take applicants’ viewpoints into account.