The application period for the 26th edition of the Francouvertes has officially begun. Whether solo or in a group, singer-songwriters from Canada’s Francophone and Aboriginal communities have until Nov. 14, 2021, to apply at francouvertes.com.
Thanks to the support of SOCAN and Musicaction, and the invaluable collaboration of Musique nomade, the Francouvertes recently presented the Skátne series, during which 11 Aboriginal artists were invited to open the evenings. This series was only the beginning of a reflection aimed at offering a greater place to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis artists and their languages. It was in the wake of the Skátne series that the decision was made to modify the rules of the competition to accept Aboriginal languages on equal footing as French for this edition. Participants will therefore be able to sing entirely in their own language, or in French and an Aboriginal language.
The possibility to attend the event online or in person will provide increased visibility for participants and partners, as well as for the artists performing on stage, as the general public and many industry players who can’t normally travel to Montréal will be able to view the event and participate remotely by voting.
The Francouvertes competition that takes place in three stages: the preliminaries, the semi-finals, and the finals, for a total of more than 11 evenings, with three artists or groups per show. Each year, this prestigious competition offers an exceptional showcase to more than 21 French-speaking, and now Aboriginal, artists and groups. This unique event offers impressive visibility to its participants, along with several impactful prizes. In addition to the $10,000 Sirius XM scholarship awarded to the Grand Prize winner, all 21 participants also stand a chance to win several prizes that can boost their professional development, such as scholarships, studio time, paid shows with recognized broadcasters as part of major events, and professional and promotional support.