SoundCzech Project
Through its state-funded organisation, the Arts and Theatre Institute, the Ministry of Culture supports participation by foreign experts, lecturers and personalities, at festivals and events in the Czech Republic, where they present contemporary theatrical, dance and musical works and in projects that develop Czech dramatic arts and the contemporary music scene. Through consultations with the Dramaturgical Board PerformCzech and the Dramaturgical Board SoundCzech and foreign partners, it collaborates in the selection of personalities whose presence at events in the Czech Republic is beneficial for the Czech cultural and professional public and helps to disseminate information and knowledge about Czech dramatic arts and the reputation of Czech culture abroad.
The SoundCzech project was established on the initiative of the Arts and Theatre Institute, a stage-funded organisation founded by the MC CR based on the needs of the music sector.
The role and objectives can be summarised in the eight objectives that make up this measure. The individual measures build on each other and create the overall concept for the measure.
1) To promote the Czech music scene abroad
2) To support professional training (VET - vocational educational training) through informal educational courses, workshops, coaching, etc.:
3) To create platform based on representatives of the music industry in the Czech Republic in order to support its infrastructure
4) Seeking local and foreign financial partners (fundraising)
5) Linking Czech music professionals to the international scene
Through exchange and joint projects to strengthen the regional music industry within the Central and Eastern European region, thereby contributing to the increased competitiveness of this region, of which the Czech Republic is a part, on the global music market.
6) Marketing and vision
7) To create and update a basic information platform – an information web portal with directories and links to actors in the Czech music industry, which will serve as an information channel for the Czech music industry
The “SoundCzech” pro-export office focuses on support for “contemporary competitive music” created in the Czech Republic in a wide range of genres (world music, rock-pop, electronic music, hip-hop, jazz, alternative music, other genres and fusions; in specific cases it can also support contemporary classical music projects).
April 2017 marked a turning point in the history of the Czech music industry. Based on demands from representatives of the music sector and an initiative of the Arts and Theatre Institute, an export agency, SoundCzech/Czech Music Office was founded with the aim of supporting the Czech music scene in all varieties of music genres
Behind the foundation of the office are players from the field of the Czech music sector. In 2015, a meeting of the initiators took place, where they voiced the importance of creating a bureau to represent the Czech music scene abroad, as well as supporting export activities.
The role of SoundCzech/Czech Music Office will primarily be to support the Czech music scene on a local and global scale. The European Union is also planning to officially classify the music sector as one of the European creative industries and, from 2020 there are plans to start direct support aimed at boosting the growth of the music industry. To attain the growth of the music sector on the European scale, the music industry in every country needs to have local infrastructure and representatives on a local and international level.
Connecting Czech music professionals with international music scenes; strengthening the regional music industry with the CEE region through exchange and joint projects, thereby contributing to increased competitiveness of this region, of which the Czech Republic is a part, on the global music market. Apart from the CEE region, the Sound Czech/Czech Music Office will also focus on relevant foreign markets markets on the basis of its long-term strategy or current foreign cultural policies..
In 2017, Czech musicians were sent, for example, to every year ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag), Waves Vienna or showcase WOMEX.
This project is supported from the budget of the Ministry of Culture, specifically from the chapter of a state-funded organisation, 42% of which is funded from the overall budget of the MC CR
of a state-funded organisation, 42% of which is funded from the overall budget of the MC CR