New Directions conference is a unique music industry event which accompanies Free Form Festival – Festival of Contemporary Music & Visual Arts held in Warsaw.

The first conference focused on the international music industry and career opportunities for new and upcoming artists. This year we were focusing on the influence that inner city festivals and music events have on urban structure - how they contribute to the brand of a city and their role in activating the creative sector. Music industry experts, music entrepreneurs, city council officials and EU representatives showcased their achievements and shared their expertise, explaining marketing and promotion efforts which proved successful in their countries.

By approaching the arts as business this innovative sector can both sustain individual artists and support the development of European cities. We, therefore, also focused on elements of the creative economy. The conference presented a forum open for debate and a platform for sharing good practice, where participants explored how the local and international music industry can contribute to the development of European cities, their attractiveness and functionality. The event was also a networking opportunity for music entrepreneurs involved in the British Council’s International Young Creative Entrepreneur Award programme.

The conference was co-organised by Good Music Productions and supported by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute and Warsaw – European Capital of Culture 2016.

For more information, please visit the conference website.