The INNOVATION NETWORK OF EUROPEAN SHOWCASES, or INES, is a European cooperation project initiated by eight international showcase festivals – including Westway LAB – and gigmit, the European digital platform for artist booking. Currently, INES has expanded to twelve showcase festivals.

WHAT’S THE MISSION

Showcase festivals are national music industry events that provide a platform for artist discovery, business networking and education. They combine live music performances, conference programmes and trade shows.
This makes them the innovation hubs of the music industry. Whether it’s about artist discovery, professional education or capacity building, it all happens there.
By connecting those hubs, INES will create a united and strong European music market.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

There are four great programmes to support European artists and music pros in order to built their international careers:

FOR ARTISTS

INES#festivals
Be seen by Europe’s tastemakers when it comes to talent discovery and apply for all INES showcase festivals easy and online with a few simple clicks.
Many showcase festivals that receive band applications are now available in one spot for all European artists.

INES#talent
This programme will enable young talents to get equal European exposure and the chance to build their international careers by showcasing around Europe.
INES partners nominate around 10 promising young talents from their own country to rotate through participating festivals in Europe.

FOR PROS

INES#pro
Music professionals are the key drivers of the music industry. INES#pro is a funding programme that supports professionals to attend all those great European showcase festivals out there, to discover bands, create personal networks, be educated and craft powerful synergies.

INES#conference
Education is the foundation of a successful industry. INES aims to make knowledge more sustainable and accessible to everyone in the music business by filming panels, workshops, presentations and discussions that happen live at the INES showcase festival conferences and creating an open source video library for music business education.