wmp

Four: Collaboration

Collaboration Between Women

The most outstanding feature – and strength - of women in music across the NT is the extent and quality of collaboration between women, especially in Alice Springs and Darwin where the scenes themselves are larger. Such initiatives are organised by women and range from informal catch ups through to forming bands, supporting one another on and off stage, forming collectives of women who perform together and curating women’s gigs and festivals which showcase original work by women. This needs to be further strengthened where possible, including making some efforts towards compensating the enormous amount of voluntary work key individuals do supporting foundational music development that has a demonstrable ripple effect throughout the broader industry.

Men Supporting and Seeking Out Collaborations With Women

A number of respondents mentioned that women are far more likely to seek out collaborations with men than men are with women. How do we engage men as advocates and we need champions – males who can promote change and be out there advocating for other males to change.

Women clearly value collaborating and inputting on equal terms with other women and with men but are less sure about the extent to which men value collaborating on equal terms with women.

As one participant put it, these discussions and consultations are for EVERYONE, not just women. It would be great to develop more of a shared culture. We can do some things as women but we need the support of the broader music community.

It’s recommended that discussions around the benefits of diversity in industry and ways to encourage this, including garnering more support from males, be linked with those around the introduction of quotas (see also Section Three: Opportunities to Participate for more of a discussion about quotas).

Stevie Jean | Photograph by Steve Kelk for Foldback Media
Stevie Jean | Photograph by Steve Kelk for Foldback Media

AIM 4.1

Encourage and support continued collaboration between women in music (see also Aims 1.6, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 3.1, 5.2, 6.2)

STRATEGIES

4.1.1 Promote and celebrate women’s collaborative efforts

4.1.2 Provide structured assistance to specific community driven initiatives which support artist development for groups of women in music (e.g., festival, mentoring program, touring group, showcase)

4.1.3 Advocate with funding bodies to promote the benefits of collaborative efforts by women and to encourage greater financial support for such initiatives

KEY INITIATIVES

57. MusicNT to promote women’s collaborative efforts and encourage other industry organisations to do so to

58. MusicNT to investigate supporting activities presented or coordinated by NT women in music which include professional development and other support for emerging women in music. This could include in kind support, promotions and limited financial support

59. Advocate with funding bodies to promote the benefits of collaborative efforts between women and to encourage greater financial support for such initiatives

AIM 4.2

Increased opportunities for women to collaborate with male and non-binary musicians (see also Aims 2.1, 2.4, 2.6, 3.1, 3.2, 5.2, 6.2)

STRATEGIES

4.2.1 Encourage and model gender diverse collaborations as part of industry workshops, conferences, songwriting retreats, etc

4.2.2 Promote positive stories and outcomes from gender diverse collaborations

4.2.3 Provide a forum for ongoing discussion and consultation for how to incentivise gender diverse collaboration and implement the results from this

KEY INITIATIVES

60. MusicNT models gender diversity within our industry workshops and other events 61. MusicNT to promote the benefits of gender diverse collaborations and encourage discussions of how to achieve this

62. Promote positive stories and outcomes from gender diverse collaborations

63. Other industry groups acknowledge the benefits of and actively support diverse collaborations between NT musicians (e.g., audiences try out new venues or go to see new acts, more venues support original or experimental music, funding bodies increase allocations or set quotas for women in music, etc)