BESPOKE 26-27
The Bespoke Artists Program supports independent, early-mid career composers, musicians, sound/ performance artists and arts workers with a focus on career sustainability. Across this two year program, participants receive professional development in three key areas; business, career and artistic leadership.
This opportunity is for you if you are:
– A motivated, self-directed, artist interested in expanding your perspective and skills in arts/music practice and arts/business administration;
– A practicing musician, composer, or sound/performance artist with experience in contemporary or creative music practice who is interested in creating your own work;
– Eager to develop your networks through peer-to-peer learning and professional development with industry experts.
This long-term, two year, engagement with Speak Percussion is held in two stages:
Stage One: peer to peer sharings, masterclasses and workshops with music and arts industry leaders.
Stage Two: participants work towards developing their own projects, with support from Speak’s team to realise their ideas and secure opportunities.
The initiative is guided by the following principles:
Responsibility: the artists are the main drivers in making this opportunity work for them; they assess what they need.
Self-determination: the artists are in charge of determining what their goals are and how they might achieve them. This is not a course of study with predetermined assessments or learning outcomes.
Practising Practice: the program is focused on developing artistic processes not creative products.
Building Networks of Support: Speak Percussion staff, workshop facilitators, mentors and the other participants are sounding boards for the path the artists need to negotiate.
Cultural Safety: the program is committed to validating diversity and creating a safe space that recognizes, respects and embraces all identities.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Online Info Session: Wednesday March 25th, 2026 6pm (bookings HERE)
EOIs Close: Sunday April 12th, 2026 at 5pm
Compulsory Dates for successful applicants:
Planning Day: Sunday, May 10, 2026 (10am-4pm, Darebin Arts Centre)
Practice Sharing #1: Friday 21 & Saturday 22 August, 2026 (participants to attend min. one of the two days)
Practice Sharing #2: Friday 6 & Saturday 7 November, 2026 (participants to attend min. one of the two days)
Practice Sharing #3: Friday 12 & Saturday 13 February, 2027 (participants to attend min. one of the two days)
Debrief Day: Saturday 13 March, 2027
APPLY HERE: https://forms.gle/JHwGDvqZBFbPFWrL7
Archives of previous Bespoke Programs can be found here.
For more information, email biddy@speakpercussion.com to speak with one of our team. The Bespoke Artists Program is a 2025 Art Music Award finalist for Excellence In Music Education.
Image credit: Darren Gill