Applications are now open for artists and music projects who want to take part in the 2025 edition of the Westway LAB. This event will be held as usual in the city of Guimarães, Portugal, from April 9 to 12.
Westway LAB is Portugal’s international music conference and showcase festival, founded in 2014. The open call is for two main programs: the Artistic Residencies and the City Showcases.
What Are the Artistic Residencies?
Westway LAB’s Artistic Residencies offer a chance for artists to collaborate, create, and perform. Taking place at the Centro de Criação de Candoso, the residencies run for eight days, from April 1 to 8. Four groups of artists, each with two to three members, will work together to create original music pieces that will premiere during the festival.
Each group will include at least one Portuguese artist, fostering cross-cultural exchange. These residencies are designed to give artists creative freedom—no set themes or scripts, just space to explore and experiment. On the final day of the residency, each group performs a 30-minute live set, debuting the work they’ve developed.
In this way, artists from all over Europe, including non-EU countries, are encouraged to apply. These residencies offer a great opportunity to work creatively with international artists while showcasing your talent.
What Are the City Showcases?
The City Showcases provide free-access concerts on April 12 in several historic locations across Guimarães. These showcases bring live music to the heart of this UNESCO World Heritage city. They both create a vibrant and accessible event for audiences and a memorable experience for artists.
This opportunity is open to all music projects, allowing a wide range of artists to connect.
How to Apply for Westway LAB 2025
Applications are open until December 15, 2024. Don’t miss this chance to be part of an event that combines artistry, collaboration, and live performance in one of Portugal’s most historic cities. Selected artists will have the opportunity to work alongside musicians from different backgrounds and take part in an unforgettable experience.
Wakan Tanka Prod is particularly excited about Westway LAB 2025, especially after meeting Ana Guimarães, a key organizer, at the SoAlive Music Conference in Sofia earlier this month. Ana took part in a panel on showcasing opportunities for artists, which gave us insights into how important are this kind of opportunities for artists to gain a bigger audience.
You can apply by filling the form: APPLY HERE