Keychange will mark the effective conclusion of its Leaders Programme at wrap-up sessions to be held at next week’s Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, Germany. It’s a special programme for leaders across the music industry.
Different Sounds in the Keychange Programme
In 2019, as part of the East of Culture – Different Sounds festival, we joined the impressive global list of signatories to the extraordinary initiative that is Keychange. Two years later, in 2021, we became the network’s official Polish partner, which had a direct impact on our ongoing activities and on shaping the festival’s mission around an ever-greater commitment to inclusivity.
As a result, audiences in Lublin have had the opportunity over the years to see outstanding female artists and innovators perform on our stage, all participating in this international movement supporting women and members of minorities in the European music scene.
Keychange 2026
Launched in November 2024, the Talent Leadership Programme (TLP) has formed part of the Keychange Leaders project, which takes action to empower talented underrepresented genders and those who overcome barriers due to their identities with training, mentoring, conference access and network support.
The initiative’s wrap up will bring together all 43 participants from 25 countries for a packed in-person programme, exclusive to the TLP cohort, which will mark the pinnacle of their efforts and learning journey. It will include an opening speech by Keychange Project Lead at Reeperbahn Festival, Christina Schäfers, in addition to the presence of esteemed experts such as Music Innovation Strategist, Agnes Chung, Senior Partnerships Manager at SoundCloud, Patricia Claper, and artist Pascal Schmid.
The Keychange Leaders Talent Leadership Programme is a 6-month interactive training programme for aspiring Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity and Accessibility (DEIA) change leaders, developing leadership techniques, building confidence and strategic skills by blending knowledge and tools with hands-on experience, personalised mentorship and access to a supportive network.
The TLP within Keychange Leaders was designed and implemented by Artist in Bloom. Ula Buyuly, educational and evaluation designer and leadership expert with the organisation, co-designed the project and was responsible for designing its leadership learning process and developing the Talent Lab programme in collaboration with the Keychange team.
The 2026 intake comprised women and gender-diverse individuals rigorously selec