Victoria launches new women-only leadership program Cultivate

A partnership between the Victorian government and Music Victoria sees the launch of the new women-only leadership program Cultivate.

It is aimed at mid-career and established women in the Victorian music industry who want to further their leadership and management skills.

These are for people who identify themselves as women who artist managers, run their own music-based business or work in a management or leadership position at a venue, festival, label, booking agency, PR company, music organisation or production company.

Cultivate will match them with CEOs, senior role holders and experienced mentors, to support and guide their careers.

Participants will also be engaged in personalised leadership training programs, group masterclasses and networking opportunities.

Applications for the pilot program are open now and close Monday, January 14.

Said Chelsea Wilson, deputy chair of the Music Victoria board, “This program further demonstrates our commitment to inclusion in the music community through providing relevant training, support and mentoring to empower the future leaders in our sector.

“As shown through the University of Sydney’s Skipping The Beat study, women are severely underrepresented in leadership roles in the music industry in Australia.

“This project is one positive action out of many that Music Victoria is undertaking to begin bridging that gap.”

Wilson thanked the Music Victoria women’s advisory panel and former board members Michelle Nichol and Tracee Hutchison “for helping bring this project to fruition.”

Music Victoria CEO, Patrick Donovan, noted that the association’s 2015 report Women in the Contemporary Music Industry, “which surveyed women in the music industry about barriers to career development, found that 90% of recipients sought more networking opportunities, 51% wanted to attend more seminars and conferences and 45% said they would benefit from mentoring opportunities.

“Music Victoria is thrilled to partner with the Office For Women on the Cultivate pilot program to address these issues and to nurture and develop female music industry professionals.’’