Empowering the up-and-coming CEE music ecosystem

forthcoming

The CEEmposium project aims to strengthen the Central and Eastern European (CEE) music ecosystem by empowering young and emerging professionals across the region. Despite the EU accession of many CEE countries over the last two decades, the regional music sector continues to lag behind its Western counterparts in terms of visibility, infrastructure, and international competitiveness. Fragmentation, limited cooperation, and the absence of tailored training and support mechanisms were obstacles in the ecosystem development. CEEmposium addresses these gaps through a comprehensive set of actions focused on capacity building, professional development, and regional integration. The project is built around three core components. First, it offers a dual-track training programme: one targeting high school and university students considering careers in the music sector, and another tailored to young professionals already active in the industry. These workshops—delivered in hybrid format at three regional showcase festivals—cover a wide array of topics including artist management, communication strategies, sustainability, gender equality, and rights awareness. Second, CEEmposium introduces a unique job shadowing element, allowing selected participants to gain hands-on experience alongside established music professionals. This is complemented by targeted networking events that foster transnational collaboration and peer exchange. Third, the project invests in long-term impact through the development of a dedicated digital platform and the CEEmposium brand, which together will serve as a regional hub for knowledge sharing, promotion, and ongoing support beyond the project’s duration. Though the project is taking place in Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, at the margins of showcase festivals, young people from the entire region will be able to participate and gain knowledge from the project.