Musikcentrum Väst arranged this year's MCV day on Wednesday at Stora Teatern in Gothenburg, a full day where artists, musicians, organizers and the industry met with a focus on music.
Music Center West (MCV) is one of three regional music centers in Sweden, the others being Music Center East and Music Center SouthThe three organizations are members of the association. National Music Centre which functions as a hub and works for collaboration between the regions, with a focus on developing music life.
Musikcentrum Väst has 770 members, all of whom are professional musicians, and who are part of one of the 350 artist programs the organization runs.
The activity functions partly as an artist agency, but also by promoting organizer development in the region, strengthening members' labor market skills, and pursuing cultural policy issues related to music. The activity is partly financed by Arts Council and Västra Götaland Region.
MCV Day is a full day for organizers, bookers, producers, artists and musicians. The purpose of the day is to be able to meet and mingle, as well as listen to artists and music that are associated with MCV. During the day, six acts played: Bach Jazz, Papa Theo, Klara Goliger, Susanne Lindeborg, Downtown Samba and Wave play.
Sara Aldén, who earlier this year won a Grammy in the category Jazz of the Year, is the project manager for the MCV day:
– This is our big day, it is the annual celebration day for Musikcentrum Väst where we gather bookers and organizers and everyone we collaborate with. Above all, we want to highlight the musicians that we have in our artist bank during this day. We are actually celebrating 25 years this year, the first MCV day was held back in 2001.
– For us, it is incredibly important to work to ensure that everyone has access to all kinds of music, and it is a constantly active work forward. You could say that we are the link between artists and organizers, and help to create an equal and high-quality music life in our region.
Sara Aldén says that during the pandemic, MCV Day was held digitally, which also resulted in the website. Live Music From Sweden, a platform with an export focus, showcasing artists and all the music created for the outside world.
– For our musicians, the pandemic was a big challenge, just like for many others, and we wanted to help show how much “export-ready” music there is from Sweden. So we have continued with that effort even after the pandemic. But at the same time, it is physical live performances that we are passionate about, when it is felt in the body and stomach.
– I am a gender scientist at heart and see the great need that still exists to create conditions so that all different types of musicians feel included. During periods of decline in society, when it comes to investments in culture and equality, it becomes even more important to be active.
– We will never be done with this, this is a long-term project, we just have to keep working forward so that all forms of artists and music can be represented. Everyone must be able to take their place and feel a sense of belonging, this work is even more important right now, when society as a whole is going backwards, so to speak.
Lars Elf is the operations manager for Musikcentrum Väst, and describes how MCV Day is important for making new contacts, and that the day often leads to bookings and jobs.
– One of our artists had an entire tour booked on one of the days, which ultimately resulted in over 700 gigs. That is also part of the purpose, in addition to the artists obviously getting paid to perform on site, it is also a way for organizers and bookers to find new artists for their events, a way for the industry and practitioners to meet and build networks.
– Right now, one of the most important cultural policy issues is how to support organizers so that they can continue to run businesses that feature all kinds of music, even from genres other than those that may work best commercially. Various forms of support are absolutely necessary for us to be able to have a vibrant music life with a wide range.
– Even though there are many from Västra Götaland who are here today, we are actually inviting the whole country. Everyone who works with arranging and producing in Sweden is warmly welcome to MCV Day.
In the picture: Annelie Johansson, Sara Aldén, Lars Elf, Louise Wanselius
Daniel Johansson
daniel@musikindustrin.se