Call for Proposals: Music Conference Programming | Folk Alliance International 2025 Conference

Submit Your Proposals for Programming at FAI 2025

Our goal is to present conference programming that is relevant to and reflective of our members and the wider folk community. It can appear in various formats: a solo presentation, a case study, a panel, an interview, a workshop, a master class, or a sing-a-long.

Our community includes artists, streaming services, festivals, house concert presenters, venue programmers, distributors, publishers, labels, internet radio services, trade associations, nonprofit groups, brands, rights management companies, startups, performing rights organizations, artist managers; business managers, lawyers, alternative financing companies, live event companies and services, marketing & PR professionals, educators, activists, and many more.

We are using a new portal system for the FAI 2025 Conference that requires the creation of a new account. Do not use your FAI Member log-in info. You must create a new account.

If you created an account submitting an Official Showcase application, you can use the same account.

Submit a proposal (closed for 2025)

Examples from Past Years

Deadlines and Info

From now until 11:59 pm CT on August 26, 2024, submit your most creative and well-thought-out ideas that can benefit FAI conference attendees. Show what you are passionate about, and what is going to be important in 2025 by completing the form below. Please be specific. Unpacking specific components of a topic will help foster a better learning experience for all. There are no fees required to submit a proposal.

Deadline to submit proposals is 11:59 pm CT on August 26, 2024
Our goal is to notify the accepted proposers by September 27, 2024
Programming should be completed including all panelist staffing by Friday, October 25, 2024, so that follow-up and marketing can commence.
Presenters/panelists accepted from this program proposal process may receive a complimentary full registration to attend the FAI 2025 conference.
For those chosen under this programming proposal process, FAI will not pay speakers any stipend or honoraria, nor provide travel expenses (airfare, hotel, etc.).

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Conference Theme

The theme of the 2024 Folk Alliance International Conference is Illuminating.

Refilling the Well: Awe, Wonder, and Purpose as Guiding Lights

To truly amplify our impact, we must first replenish our creative wellsprings. This conference will explore the power of awe and wonder, guiding us to rediscover a sense of purpose in our artistic endeavors.

This year’s artwork will be inspired by the the lights of the North, Awe as a Catalyst for Change

For centuries, the mesmerizing spectacle of the Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights, has ignited awe across the globe. Witnessing this celestial phenomenon serves as a powerful reset, reminding us of our place in the vastness of the universe. The Northern Lights serve as a powerful symbol of the interconnectedness between humans, the natural world, and the spiritual realm within Indigenous cultures across Northern Canada.

Drawing inspiration from this tradition, we invite our folk community to approach their work with a renewed sense of wonder and awe. By reigniting these fundamental emotions, we can find the passion and purpose to fuel artistic expression and positive social change.

Join us in Montreal as we:

Explore the intersection of artistic expression, social responsibility, and community building.
Rediscover the power of awe and wonder as catalysts for creativity and social change.
Learn from and collaborate with a diverse range of artists, activists, and industry leaders.

Together, we will rekindle the flame of folk music and illuminate a path toward a brighter future. FAI welcomes creative ideas, important teachings, constructive strategies and innovative approaches to addressing topics that affect our music industry and community.

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Guidelines

Panelists

Our panels feature 3-4 speakers and a moderator. The moderator is responsible for balancing conversation, time, and keeping the course of conversation. We encourage you to submit topics that present a balanced perspective, ensuring that attendees understand the full spectrum of an issue and that key industry and/or community stakeholders are given a chance to weigh in on the discussion from their vantage point.

Please ensure your submission has speakers that reflect FAI’s rich and vibrant community reflecting our commitment to equitable representation for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities, and gender balance . Speakers should also be diverse in age, geographic location, areas of expertise, and ideologies. If balance and diversity are not achieved, FAI reserves the right to suggest/add participants to a discussion or alternative ideas and copy.

Submit a proposal (closed for 2025)

‍If you have questions regarding your submission or the guidelines outlined above, please contact cindy@folk.org

Programming Proposals