Composition
What's the plan?
Prelude
Bibrazioak
Tempo
Designing the future
What's the plan?
Composition
Prelude
Designing the future
Shared visions
In harmony
Range Mentorship - Governance - Inclusion
Analysis in four stages
A new generation of connectors
Partition Listen to dissonances
Rhythmic Bases
AMPLIFY
Towards a clearer note range
Tempo
REACH Crescendo
Vibrations
Sources and Resources
Like an international orchestra
First waves
Experts
Voices
Downloadable
Resonances in the making
Sources and resources
Echoes
In Harmony
Prelude
Four-Stage Analysis
Rhythmic Bases
R.E.A.C.H is the result of a reflection carried out by a group of operators all involved in supporting young artists and cultural entrepreneurs. The Erasmus program has helped shape their desire to act concretely during a time of significant change in the cultural and creative sector, affirming shared values and fostering innovation and transmission.
Analysis in Four Steps
Weaknesses
Strengths
Opportunities
Threats
Rhythmic Bases
Shared values
The REACH project
Erasmus + ProgramYouth
TEMPO
REACH Crescendo
Like an international orchestra
R.E.A.C.H has been driven by a series of transnational symposiums, bringing together young entrepreneurs, youth facilitators, and mentors. Spaces for experimentation around shared practices, creations, and debates. To put young people in practical situations to meet with other cultural ecosystems and enrich their approach.
Crescendo
Symposium Stavanger June 2023
Meet the REACH ErasmusDays - Oct 2023
Symposium Milan June 2024
Symposium Donostia Oct 2024
Symposium New York March 2025
Colloquium Biarritz January 2025
REACH meet CDI
Fanzine
Fanzine
REACH meet ITP/IMA
REACH meet NYU Makerspace
REACH meet Photo & Imaging
REACH meet Tech culture and Society
Meet the REACH
International orchestra
Scope
Composition
Mentorship, cultural governance, inclusion of marginalized cultures
Partition
Field analyses
R.E.A.C.H. is an experiment, pragmatic but also driven by shared values. In a context where young cultural entrepreneurs seek to develop artistic and creative projects rooted locally but open internationally, support for their development involves tailored mechanisms that reflect their practices. The project allowed for the exchange of experiences and exploration of their expectations. It was based on an in-depth questioning of the entrepreneurs, which helped guide the work and outputs.
Scope
Mentorship
During the preparatory work, and throughout the meetings, three themes emerged particularly: mentorship, project governance, and the inclusion of marginalized cultures. These three dimensions, often addressed separately, can nevertheless be considered together to promote sustainable, equitable, and culturally adapted entrepreneurship facing contemporary challenges.
Governance
Inclusion
Mentoring A tailored support for project holders
Mentoring in the cultural field refers to a trusting relationship between a project holder and an experienced person (the mentor), who shares their knowledge, network, and advice. It is not just a simple skills transfer but a personalized support based on listening, dialogue, and recognizing the specific needs of the young entrepreneur. Especially, their value system.
In a transnational context, mentoring takes on an intercultural dimension, requiring empathy, adaptation, and openness.
The stakes for REACH
Mentoring allows young entrepreneurs to benefit from peer or experienced professional feedback, facilitating understanding of implicit codes in the international cultural sector.Transnational exchange helps diversify mentor profiles and open learning to various cultural contexts.
Being mentored helps to overcome often felt isolation in the early stages of entrepreneurship.Exchanges between partner organizations enable the identification of effective practices for transnational networking and co-support.
Mentoring offers a space for experimentation and guided reflection, where mistakes become learning opportunities.Action research allows analyzing the effects of mentoring on resilience, adaptability, and strategic vision of entrepreneurs.
Enhancing entrepreneurial skills in a secure environment
Intercultural and sectoral experience transfer
Reducing isolation and developing networks
An appropriate governance, a condition for sustainability and legitimacy of projects
Governance in the cultural sector refers to modes of organization, decision-making, and project management. Often considered a purely administrative aspect, it is actually a central lever for empowerment, fairness among stakeholders, and legitimization of the project with funders or partners.
Among young cultural entrepreneurs, governance is often intuitive and horizontal, but it can quickly become a barrier if not thought through collectively, adapted to the project's evolution, and aligned with institutional expectations.
The challenges for REACH
Governance influences the capacity of young entrepreneurs to communicate with public or private actors, obtain funding, or formalize agreements internationally.
The need for clear governance to structure projects over time
Many projects fail due to unclear roles, decision-making processes, or responsibility models.
The ability to negotiate with partners and institutions
Collaborative governance can serve as a factor of innovation and inclusion
Participative or shared governance promotes the mobilization of the public, collaborators, and partners around the project.
The inclusion of marginalized cultures: from recognition to co-construction
Young entrepreneurs from marginalized cultures—whether linguistic, ethnic, regional, or social—often face a double challenge: to have their cultural expression recognized and to find ways to valorize it within a often normative dominant framework.
In relation to institutions, inclusion is not limited to a "vitrine diversity" approach but requires genuine co-construction of cultural policies, increased visibility, and equitable production conditions.
The challenges for REACH
In a globalization context, promoting culturally inclusive, multilingual projects that respect minority identities becomes a shared responsibility. Documenting and highlighting best practices is thus a lever to support fair and effective cultural policies.
Many young artists or project leaders from marginalized cultures face structural obstacles (language, recognition, networks). Objectifying these obstacles helps to co-construct appropriate responses with the stakeholders involved.
The inclusion of marginalized cultures opens up to hybrid art forms, alternative narratives, and original aesthetics. The challenge is to find ways to value these expressions in international artistic scenes that are often standardized.
The ethical and political imperative in globalization contexts
The necessity to fight against cultural invisibility
The creative richness stemming from cultural diversity
Sheet music
From the launch of the R.E.A.C.H. project, the question of audience expectations was central - Listening to the dissonances - A structured questionnaire allowed us to inquire about the activity framework, positioning, and the relationships to transversal issues (inclusion, sustainability, digital), of young entrepreneurs, as well as their mentoring needs. These reflective feedbacks, which continued throughout the project, guided the overall direction - Towards a clearer note range -, informed the organization of symposiums, the project follow-up with the Agency, reflections on open educational resources, and especially the design of two MOOCs. All in line with the values of the Erasmus+ program and the transnational ambition of REACH.
Listen to the dissonances
Towards a clearer note range
Listen to dissonances
The methodology
The questionnaire
2. Position entrepreneurs within their reference framework
3. Situate cultural entrepreneurs in relation to cross-cutting issues
1. Evaluate the activity framework of young creators
5. Incorporate digital issues
4. Incorporate sustainable development issues
6. What kind of mentoring is suitable
Towards clearer grade scope
This reflexivity has enriched the approach, fostered collective reflection among partners, remotely and during symposiums. These exchanges have allowed for adjustments to the project implementation and guided the production of open resources. Three MOOCs have emerged from this, rooted in Erasmus+ values. They aim for broad dissemination, serving multiple uses: young artists, entrepreneurs, trainers, coaches, teachers, or decision-makers in the cultural sector.
Reflection – Action – Transmission A collective dynamic
From analysis to collective reflection
This approach has helped anchor the project while structuring a shared understanding of the challenges of mentoring, creating in a minority context, and digital transition.
Analysis and contextualization of the questionnaire results
Successive feedback from participants at various symposiums
Theoretical contributions from each partner
The method
Crossing experiencesSharing knowledge Collectively refining needs Adjusting course in real-time
Hear the voices
Massive Open Online Courses
A MOOC is a format for sharing knowledge that combines accessibility, modularity, and rich content. Open to everyone, they allow learning at your own pace, according to your needs, in a flexible and evolving digital environment. These MOOCs have been designed as shareable and reusable resources, created to equip, inspire, guide, or structure entrepreneurial projects and support initiatives across a variety of contexts.
In this sense, these MOOCs are meant to circulate, be shared, remixed, translated, and adapted.
First waves
Vibrations
Resonances in progress
The dissemination of results is at the heart of the R.E.A.C.H. dynamic. It is not limited to the final valorization of the project: it starts from the initial actions, mobilizes diverse networks (institutional, alternative, digital) and produces direct and indirect effects. For project leaders as well as for Erasmus+, this proactive approach is essential to ensure impact, reappropriation, and sustainability of the content.
Voices
Echoes
Vibrations - First waves
The dissemination of results is at the heart of the R.E.A.C.H. dynamic. It is not limited to the final valorization of the project: it begins with the first actions, mobilizes various networks (institutional, alternative, digital), and produces direct and indirect effects. For project leaders and Erasmus+, this proactive approach is essential to ensure impact, ownership, and sustainability of the content.
Direct international involvement
Participation in public events
Meet the REACH event Stavanger: 37 cultural professionals
Public Meet the REACH - Erasmus Days - Atabal : 700 people
Public Biarritz Conference - Atabal : 700 people
Institutions and Cultural Professionals Biarritz Conference - Atabal : 38 people
Vibrations - First waves
Instagram posts, sharing highlights of the project, generated strong engagement. The announcement of the Biarritz symposium alone reached over 10,000 views, while subsequent posts accumulated over 20,000 views, demonstrating growing interest.
These communication tools, outside traditional institutional channels, have allowed reaching a young, creative audience, often distant from conventional support structures.
Just a few examples!
VOIX
Our Creative Booth set up during the Biarritz Conference allowed us to gather advice and tips from mentors, young artists, and youth actors, group coordinators. Here, we present some contributions that showcase their journeys, their expectations for the project, the added value of support rooted in artistic practice, attentive to local realities, and what R.E.A.C.H. has enabled them to explore
Mentors
Musicians
Youth actors
Visual artists
Resonances in the Making
Resources in continuous vibration
- Social media as main relay
- Spontaneous interactions: mentions, reposts, stories by beneficiaries themselves
- Short, engaging formats (reels, stylized clips)
- Visual aesthetics: REACH graphic identity + visual language for youth
From the first collaborations between mentors, the production of Free Educational Resources (FER) has played a central role in the REACH project. The MOOC format, modular and adaptable, naturally established itself as the main transmission vector for several reasons:
Rooted in mentors' practices Mentors, trainers, university professionals, and support staff involved in REACH are accustomed to encouraging autonomous work and knowledge transfer. The MOOC fits into this pedagogical culture.
Accessibility and online dissemination Thanks to free and open online access, content can be used and adapted across various contexts. They rely on partner networks to reach a broad audience, without filters.
A resource aggregatorMOOCs compile:
- Practical sheets,
- Methodological kits,
- Video tutorials,
- Testimonies collected during the project.
Echoes
The R.E.A.C.H. project is based on a strong belief: it is through cooperation among cultural actors, at different scales and in various fields, that we can imagine new models of support for young creators. The dynamic mapping of the R.E.A.C.H. network is made up of cultural structures, fablabs, training venues, associations, dissemination spaces, shared spaces, and institutional partners. By building connections between these resources and people, the R.E.A.C.H. network is created as a living, evolving, inclusive ecosystem rooted in the territories. It serves as a tool for emancipation, professionalization, and openness for young cultural entrepreneurs.
Designing the future
The R.E.A.C.H. project laid the foundations for a transnational, inclusive, and creative approach to supporting young cultural entrepreneurs. Building on the results achieved, the partners now aim to amplify the project's impact through three complementary dynamics.
Shared visions: transmission as a collective work
Emergence of a new generation of transmitters
Launch of the Amplify project
These perspectives extend the learnings from R.E.A.C.H. while initiating a scale change and a shift in approach — from testing to sustainable deployment.
Shared visions: transmission as a collective work
R.E.A.C.H. has generated numerous educational resources – MOOCs and their components (tool sheets, methodological kits, testimonials, etc.) – designed to support young creatives in their journeys. To extend their usefulness, it is essential to improve their accessibility, ensure continuous enhancement, and promote their appropriation in various contexts.
Build on existing productions
Mobilize key actors
Continuously improve
Create new MOOCs
A new generation of connectors
Mentees turned mentors
One of the strengths of the R.E.A.C.H. project lies in the trust built between mentors and young people and/or youth workers. Some of these young people, now more experienced, wish to get involved or are involved in support roles. Supporting them in this transition, training them in the mentor role, and providing spaces for action helps foster a new generation of connectors. This dynamic ensures the continuity of the project's spirit while strengthening local creative communities. The objectives are:
Identify and highlight engaged journeys Train in the mentor role (active listening, interculturality…) Create intergenerational pairs with former mentors Support learning communities, online or local Document stories to inspire other young people to get involved
AMPLIFY A new collective composition
2025- 2028
The partners of R.E.A.C.H. open, by expanding the partnership, a new cycle of action focused on inclusion, recognition, and the professionalization of young creatives from minorities. This project, coordinated by Combustible, mobilizes an expanded and diverse consortium to individually support audiences distant from the resources and networks of the ICCs. It combines informal learning, mentorship, and international cooperation within an ambitious framework aligned with Erasmus+ priorities. AMPLIFY extends and deepens the values of R.E.A.C.H. from a social justice perspective.
Improve the quality of non-formal socio-educational activities within organizations to support the professionalization of young creatives facing economic difficulties and gender, sexual, and cultural discrimination. Promote the inclusion of young creatives with fewer opportunities in the employment dynamics of the cultural and creative industries, from local to international levels, through partnerships and informal learning initiatives.
Objectives
Latest notes
R.E.A.C.H. has sown the seeds of a fairer, more open, and more grounded cultural support, aligned with the realities of young creatives. The initiatives presented here aim to nurture these seeds through the smart dissemination of resources, active peer-to-peer transmission, and the launch of an ambitious new project with AMPLIFY. By focusing on cooperation, complementarity, and inclusion, partners are shaping a future where young talents can learn, express themselves, share, and build in turn.
Experts REACH
Flo Gil de Muro Fuel
Jean-Louis Puyo Fuel
Jacques Chabrillat Fuel
Indiana Debacq Fuel
Carine Puyo Fuel
Marco Bocola Vectorealism
Eleonora Ricca Vectorealism
Marc Plotkin Clive Davis Institute
Jeff Peretz Clive Davis Institute
Errol Koloskine Clive Davis Institute
JD Samson Clive Davis Institute
Brianne Hayes Clive Davis Institute
Nick Sansano Clive Davis Institute
Bobby Wooten Clive Davis Institute
Alan Billi Usopop
Areta Senosiain Music Office
Arkaitz Villar Music Office
Mike Errico Clive Davis Institute
Resources
All videos and useful links included in this presentation are available on this page. Enjoy exploring!
Videos (in order of appearance)
Young musicians on the Power of Coming Together
R.E.A.C.H. - PART 1 - Stavanger, Norway June 2023
Young designers and photographers on the Power of Coming Together
R.E.A.C.H. PART 2 - Milan, Italy June 2024
R.E.A.C.H. residency: Reflections from the coordinators
R.E.A.C.H. - PART 3 - Biarritz / Pays Basque January 2025
Tips from the R.E.A.C.H. Project Experts
R.E.A.C.H. Project @ATABAL January 2025
Music Tips & Tracks from the R.E.A.C.H. Crew
R.E.A.C.H. Project - Erasmus Days October 2023
Links
R.E.A.C.H. Project - New York City Symposium March 2025
MOOC - Governance & Mentoring
MOOC - Cultural and Creative Entrepreneurship
MOOC - Creating a Symposium
MOOCs - The Complete Toolbox
Map of the REACH Network
Creative and Cultural Sector Consultation Form
Questioning structure
The REACH project positions environmental issues as a potentially structuring dimension of relevant and truly operational cultural and creative entrepreneurship in its era.
This issue is first addressed from the perspective of practices already in place or integrated into the project.
The question of the challenges faced by the company then explores the development approach considered.
Knowledge of resources and access to these resources is the subject of a third set of questions: existing programs, training, advice…
Finally, the entrepreneur is invited to consider this sustainable development topic in terms of its potential for the creative sector.
Bobby Wooten
Bobby Wooten III is a composer/producer/instrumentalist raised in Chicago, IL. He credits his family’s gospel Wooten Choral Ensemble as his main influence & inspiration. Bobby has written/produced/recorded with David Byrne, Carly Rae Jepsen, Post Malone, Jennifer Lopez, Mac Miller, Jennifer Hudson, Rick Ross, Machine Gun Kelly, Jake Troth, among others. Commercial production credits include Empire TV series, Google, Adidas, Lebron James, ESPN, among others. Bobby composed & produced the score for the 2023 film "Rare Objects." Broadway credits include Moulin Rouge! & the Grammy/Emmy-nominated & Tony-winning production of David Byrne's American Utopia, the latter filmed by Spike Lee. In 2020, Bobby launched the internet series "America, Learn Your History." In two minute episodes, he retells history as seen through a minority lens –– Revisiting stories that have been misunderstood, misled, or lied upon in American education.
Forces
The REACH project relies on experienced partners recognized for their expertise in education, international project management, and cultural innovation. These strong and complementary organizations cover a wide artistic spectrum, from contemporary and classical music to alternative and marginalized cultures. Their shared commitment to creative entrepreneurship and inclusion makes REACH a dynamic ecosystem, providing young creators with tailored support to meet sector challenges.
Brianne Hayes
Brianne has been with The Clive Davis Institute since its very early days in 2005. She began her time at CDI as the first Administrative Aide of the department, and as the department expanded, she became the first Administrative Coordinator. Now, in her role as Administrative Director, she is integral to the big picture planning and development for the Institute and oversees all day-to-day administrative activities, including managing the annual budget, advising and assisting students with issues, leading the admissions process, and scheduling courses and hiring faculty, etc. You name it!
Conference of Biarritz by Combustible
International restitution and perspective-taking conference of the project, organized at the Atabal, contemporary music stage.
Presentation of the young artists participating in the Conference
Presentation of the mentors
Presentation of youth actors - Coordinators of the young artists groups
Presentation of the Atabal support team
Questioning structure
In its transnational dimensions, the REACH project questions the role of digital technology in the evolution of cultural and creative entrepreneurship and the positioning of young creators regarding their relationship with this aspect of their projects, at different levels.
First, on the direct impacts of digital technology on their project: at the level of artistic creation itself, its shaping, and then its dissemination.
Next, regarding the perceived potential for deploying the business, especially in relation to audiences: territorial development, fine interaction modalities, development of an enhanced user experience, etc. The barriers or difficulties related to access to this resource are the subject of a third set of questions: cost, skills, rights issues, attention span, etc.
Finally, on a more meta level, the entrepreneur is invited to evaluate the impact of digital technology on artistic creation within their field.
Mike Errico
New York-based recording artist, writer, and professor Mike Errico has built his name on the strength of critically acclaimed releases and extensive composition for film and TV. He has taught songwriting at universities including Yale, Wesleyan, and the New School, and was nominated for 2019’s David Payne-Carter Award for Excellence in Teaching. He is the author of Music, Lyrics, and Life: A Field Guide for the Advancing Songwriter, which is required reading in arts programs across the country.
Donostia Symposium by Musika Bulegoa
The mentors gathered in October 2024 to discuss Basque culture, interculturality, and creation in cross-border territory
List of participants and hosts of the Symposium
Stavanger Symposium by ELEFANT
The first project symposium held in Stavanger facilitated discussions around local music scenes and artistic support.
The Italian team
The French and Basque teams
The American team
The Norwegian team
Jeff Peretz
Multi-instrumentalist/producer Jeff Peretz is an Associate Arts professor, the Music Director, and the coordinator of the Musicianship & Songwriting area at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. Jeff has recorded and/or performed with Mark Ronson, Lana Del Ray, Jay-Z, Rock Wilder, Daniel Merriweather, Corrine Baily Rea, Tim Robbins and Stanley Clarke. He is the founder and principal composer for Abu Gara. His books include Zen and the Art of Guitar, Guitar Atlas: Cuba, and Guitar Atlas: The Middle East and he recently contributed the musical analysis to the NYTimes best seller: Dilla Time.
The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, the Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm. As “America’s Pop Musicologist, he has written music for television, film and stage and as Michael J Fox's personal guitar coach for the past 12 years, he has prepared, arranged and successfully directed Michael's performances with such artists as The Who, Chris Martin, and the Roots for the MJFox Foundation's annual benefit "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Cure.” He has been a faculty member of the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music since 2006 and a full-time faculty member since 2013. Jeff has taught at The New School University, and Marymount Manhattan College. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Third Street Music Settlement School in lower Manhattan and a member of the Les Paul Advisory Council
Threats
The REACH project is evolving in a context where the links between public and private actors supporting young cultural entrepreneurs remain insufficient, limiting collaboration and funding opportunities. Furthermore, a lack of mutual understanding between young people and the organizations that support them hinders the creation of synergies, especially for alternative and marginalized cultures. Finally, the absence of suitable dialogue and cooperation mechanisms prevents these young entrepreneurs and their organizations from being fully involved in the development of policies that concern them, thereby reducing their ability to influence their own ecosystem.
This MOOC is aimed at all those who wish to organize a collaborative cultural event rooted in a territory: symposium, artistic meeting, creative forum, or practice laboratory. Based on experiences conducted in Stavanger, Milan, Donostia, and Biarritz within the framework of R.E.A.C.H., this MOOC offers concrete tools to plan, build, and facilitate a symposium, while promoting methods of collective intelligence, transnational cooperation, and the inclusion of young project leaders.
Questioning Structure
The second level of questions concerns young entrepreneurs' understanding of their needs within the professional environment of their business.
Knowledge of administrative, regulatory, and institutional dimensions constitutes a second level of reflexivity.
The focus then shifts to identified opportunities, with an initial emphasis on the international dimension.
Finally, a review of the institutional environment is established in the form of proposals to improve support for projects.
Questioning structure
This section contributes to the work of the REACH project by adapting mentoring mechanisms and tools for young creative entrepreneurs at a transnational level. It takes a reverse approach by exploring their perception of mentoring, identifying their knowledge acquisition needs, their familiarity with this type of support, the expected benefits, and the strategic interest in its use. It also examines suitable formats and access difficulties to these resources, while gathering recommendations to improve their accessibility. The results will help optimize support mechanisms based on entrepreneurs' expectations.
Eleonora Ricca
Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design. Co-founded Vectorealism in 2009, driven by a deep passion for creating and making things real, with the goal of providing everyone the opportunity to make things and access cutting-edge technologies. Currently, she teaches laser cutting at SIAM and Innovation in Materials and Technology at Domus Academy. When her head is not immersed in the laser cutter, her other hyperfixation is dogs and looking at peculiar animals and memes on the internet.
Shared Values
Inclusion & Diversity. Like a museum enriched by the diversity of its artworks, Erasmus+ promotes an inclusive society, offering opportunities to young people from disadvantaged or underrepresented cultures.
Learning & Sharing. The Erasmus+ program encourages intergenerational learning and the exchange of knowledge between professionals and young talents.
International Cooperation. Like music bringing together languages and cultures, Erasmus+ builds bridges between European countries and beyond.
Innovation & Creativity. Innovation is at the heart of Erasmus+, encouraging young people to experiment with new artistic, economic, and pedagogical approaches.
Musika Bulegoa
Musika Bulegoa is an organization that works with public entities to support the Basque music sector. We specialize in organizing training sessions, conducting workshops, promoting awareness projects, providing advice & support to entrepreneurs, advocating for diversity, organizing LGBTQ+ conferences, supporting internationalization, and more.
Alan Billi
Alan is a multi-instrumentalist known for his work as a musician and producer with the bands Orbel, The Rodeo Idiot Engine, and VENIL, as well as with his solo project PALECOAL, which has just released a debut LP blending alternative Hip-Hop with Industrial and Post-Digital soundscapes. He is also part of the Basque collective Usopop, which organizes shows, festivals, and releases records for some of the most innovative Basque artists.
Jacques Chabrillat
Jacques Chabrillat, Ph.D. graduate in management sciences, is an expert in financial and budgetary engineering who directs pedagogical activities at AGECIF, collaborates with government agencies on training and consultancy, supports Le Moulin in Marseille, and sits on the board of the Eurockéennes festival.
Areta Senosiain
After completing violin and orchestra studies, she continued exploring new styles and formats, delving into the string quartet and a band with which she currently offers numerous concerts throughout Euskal Herria, called Ibil Bedi. A few years ago she discovered cultural management and after completing a master's degree, she delved into the Musika Bulegoa project, with the hope of continuing to work in the music sector from another point of view.
Flo Gil de Muro
Flo Gil de Muro, with a background in gender studies and sociology of health , has been deeply involved in LGBTQIA+ cultural activism, including organizing queer film and music festivals and working in community health for marginalized communities. Since joining Combustible in January 2024, Flo has focused on producing open educational resources and documenting methodologies for international projects, building on extensive experience in advocacy, education, and creative projects like music and podcast production.
Nicholas Sansano
Nick began his professional career in earnest at Greene Street Recording in NYC, recording and mixing for a variety of seminal Hip Hop and Alternative Music artists - including Public Enemy, Ice Cube, Rob Base, and Run DMC. His work in early Hip Hop attracted the attention of Sonic Youth, with whom he would co-produce and record the albums "Daydream Nation" and "Goo," two critically acclaimed and historic alternative music releases.
Sonic Youth's "Daydream Nation" and Public Enemy’s "It Takes a Nation of Millions" and "Fear of Black Planet" were selected for inclusion in the US Library of Congress Archive of Culturally Significant American Recordings. Nick's genre-crossing work has taken him around the world, producing music in Australia, New Zealand, and all throughout Europe. In France, he found success producing multi-platinum recordings for the groups IAM, Zebda and Noir Desir – blending French pop genres with musicians from North Africa, Spain, and the Middle East. His francophone work has earned three Victoire De La Musique Awards from the French Recording Academy. In all, Nick has been awarded over 17 Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Record awards worldwide. Despite the commercial success, it is his work outside the mainstream with artists such as Le Tigre, Galactic, Peter Mulvey, The Grassy Knoll, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, The Pop Group, and Mbongeni Ngema that defines who he is as a musician, recordist, and producer. He remains an active performer with his experimental group, The Bronze Fondue.
Indiana Debacq
Indiana, with a background in Economics and a Master’s in International Negotiation focused on the Arab world, has worked several years on EU-funded projects promoting microenterprise and cultural development in Cairo, Egypt. An experienced translator for international organizations, she joined Combustible in April 2022, bringing her expertise in economic and cultural initiatives.
Questioning Structure
The REACH project emphasizes the need to connect cultural and creative entrepreneurship with the overarching issues of the time. The questionnaire then includes a series of questions about the positioning of young creators on various topics.
The first point concerns inclusion and diversity dimensions within the entrepreneurial project.
The second questions the entrepreneur about their personal situation regarding belonging to a marginalized culture (gender, disability, language, ...)
This second point is developed around the specific challenges the entrepreneur might face.
Finally, an assessment of the institutional environment is provided in the form of policy proposals to promote inclusion.
Jean-Louis Puyo
Polymorphic artist, Jean-Louis has led the group Bubblies since 1991, conceived award-winning hearing risk prevention projects and pioneered the musical USB key in 2006. As a relay and advisor to numerous artists, he deploys his skills in project management strategy and team management. He is familiar with issues in the phonographic industry as well as those of developing artists.
Opportunities
The REACH project is part of a favorable context marked by a growing need for innovation in the creative and cultural sectors, particularly to rethink governance models after the COVID crisis. The strong demand from young entrepreneurs for mentorship tailored to current challenges – inclusion, ecology, digital, and living together – reinforces the relevance of the initiative. Additionally, the new Erasmus+ program provides a more accessible and structured framework, facilitating exchanges and networking. Finally, the enthusiasm generated by previous projects has created significant expectations within partner ecosystems, thus strengthening the commitment and potential impact of REACH.
Clive Davis Institute New York
The Clive Davis Institute is a department of the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, renowned worldwide for its artistic studies. Our mission is to equip students with the necessary skills, whether entrepreneurial, creative, or intellectual, to foster visionary and cultural entrepreneurs in an ever-evolving international music industry.
To launch the R.E.A.C.H. project, we surveyed young cultural entrepreneurs using a structured questionnaire. Objectives: understand their profiles, identify their professional environment, and grasp their expectations. Their feedback highlighted four key areas: activity profile, relationship with institutions, cross-cutting issues (inclusion, sustainability, digital technology), and mentoring expectations. A solid foundation to refine our actions and anticipate suitable, widely shareable outputs.
Weaknesses
The partnership features a diversity of mentor and beneficiary profiles, which requires constant adaptation of support methods. Managing an international network with varied cultural and economic realities also complicates coordination and implementation of actions. Additionally, although each partner has recognized expertise, integrating digital innovations and new governance models demands a collective effort of adaptation and ongoing training.
This MOOC is aimed at mentors, facilitators, mediators, educators, or program managers. It offers an in-depth analysis of the issues related to mentoring in the cultural and creative industries, taking into account multicultural contexts, power dynamics, management tools, and new forms of online or hybrid support.
Arkaitz Villar
Since 2019, Arkaitz has been working as a Project Manager at the Euskal Herriko Musika Bulego Elkartea association. His responsibilities include promoting Basque music at various international professional fairs, managing the communications team, and organizing and hosting key events such as Kluster and DA! Pro. Arkaitz is also deeply involved in supporting young Basque artists in the music sector by providing them with essential tools and resources to develop their projects and gain access to relevant professional platforms. In parallel, he coordinates the activities of BASQUE. MUSIC., an initiative dedicated to the promotion of Basque music. Arkaitz’s expertise in the Basque music industry stems from his experience as a radio host for EITB, where he ran a program until 2020 focusing on the professional music sector in the Basque Country, covering all aspects of the industry—from musicians to festivals.
Vectorealism - Milan
Vectorealism is a design and prototyping studio specialized in digital manufacturing. Pioneers of the Makers movement in Italy. Our activity focuses on digital manufacturing services, research, and training with three main target areas: a FabLab in Milan, an online digital manufacturing service, and a creative and consulting design studio.
Milan Symposium by Vectorealism
Participants gathered in June 2024 to explore collaborative design, digital fabrication, and creative experiments.
The Italian team
The French and Basque teams
The American team
New York Symposium by the Clive Davis Institute
16 mentors meet in New York in March 2025 to discuss career structuring and mentoring dynamics on a global scale.
The welcome booklet including the participant presentation at the Symposium
This MOOC is primarily aimed at young creative entrepreneurs, but it can also be used by trainers, incubators, or cultural institutions. It explores major changes in the cultural sector, the specifics of creative entrepreneurship, hybrid economic models, the impact of digital technology and globalization, development strategies, and contemporary forms of audience engagement.
The REACH project
The cultural and creative industries have radically changed with digital technology, transforming modes of production and distribution. In current music, traditional structures (producers, distributors, specialized media) have been replaced by digital platforms, algorithms, and influencers, promoting an economy based on attention rather than creation. Independent artists and those from marginalized cultures now need to master entrepreneurial skills, navigate globalized environments, and develop new governance strategies. Despite these challenges, they are also key players in cultural innovation.
The REACH project addresses these issues by: ✔ Supporting specialized mentors to guide young creators. ✔ Developing an international support network for cultural entrepreneurship. ✔ Organizing symposiums and a colloquium to share expertise and strengthen collaborations. ✔ Producing accessible resources to ensure the project's lasting impact. The goal is to provide young cultural entrepreneurs with appropriate tools to thrive in this new ecosystem and to ensure inclusive and sustainable creativity.
Questioning structure
The first set of questions concerns the "identity" of the person: age, gender, geographic location, and initial training. The entrepreneurial project is then positioned concerning a reference creative field. The entrepreneur is then positioned in terms of roles and occupations assumed in this project. Finally, the company is approached from the perspective of its legal form, on the one hand, and its turnover, on the other.
These positioning elements of the project holder relative to their company already allow for pre-positioning mentoring:
In terms of direct resources to bring to the entrepreneur;
In terms of possible intersections with other cultural projects that could enrich the creator's approach.
Carine Puyo
Carine, co-founder and manager of the association Combustible since 2005, is an expert in structuring participatory projects in the cultural and social economy sectors, providing support to entrepreneurs in art, socio-cultural, digital, and sports initiatives. With a strong background in cultural project development and sociology, she also works as a consultant and brings two decades of experience as a musician in the DIY music scene, offering deep insights into contemporary music and live performance.
This online questionnaire aims to understand the needs of young cultural entrepreneurs to adapt mentorship programs. Structured into four parts, it gathers information about their profile, constraints and opportunities, their alignment with the values of the REACH project, and their mentorship needs. The analysis is based on three axes: self-assessment, expression of needs, and relationship with existing resources. The results will help refine mentorship content, optimize support, and adapt policies to support the cultural and creative sector.
Marco Bocola
Marco began his career in Milan’s creative industry in his early twenties, with a strong interest in copywriting and digital content creation. Motivated by his natural curiosity and a genuine desire to explore different fields, he actively looked for opportunities to contribute to various creative business ventures. This included his involvement in a software startup in the Republic of Moldova and his participation in a sociological research project examining the history of made in Italy design. He holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Studies and Management from the Catholic University of Milan, giving him a solid foundation in business and organizational dynamics.
The program Erasmus+ Youth
The Erasmus+ Youth program aims to support projects that, like REACH, enable young people to: ✔ Develop their skills through formal and non-formal learning experiences. ✔ Open up internationally through cultural and professional exchanges. ✔ Experiment with new models of cultural and creative entrepreneurship suited to contemporary challenges. In this spirit, REACH acts as a collective musical composition, where each project participant plays an essential note to create a unique synergy between mentoring, governance, and cultural inclusion.
Based on the foundation that melody and harmony rely on, the Erasmus+ program forms the backbone of the REACH project. It provides a structuring and dynamic framework, promoting mobility, learning, and innovation for young cultural and creative entrepreneurs.
Combustible - Biarritz
Combustible is a laboratory of innovative cultural initiatives, with over two decades of experience in live performance, artistic creation, networking, cultural mediation & digital technology. We provide consulting & training, co-production, and production services for young cultural & creative entrepreneurs, especially those from underground and D.I.Y. cultures.
Errol Kolosine
Errol Kolosine is a music industry executive, producer, and educator with a career spanning decades in music business, artist management, soundtracks, and new media. He joined Caroline / Astralwerks in New York, where he spent 14 years, rising to General Manager in 1999. Under his leadership, the label became a powerhouse, working with top-selling and Grammy-winning artists such as The Chemical Brothers, Air, Beth Orton, Fatboy Slim, Brian Eno, Sia, Hot Chip, and Royksopp.
Kolosine also made a mark in soundtracks and licensing, serving as Music Supervisor or Executive Producer on films like Being John Malkovich, V for Vendetta, and Rango, as well as video games and TV shows like SSX-3 and Heroes. He received a Grammy nomination as Executive Producer for the Six Feet Under soundtrack. After leaving Astralwerks, he founded Modern Frequencies, a platform for artist advocacy, management, and consulting, working with The Chemical Brothers and various labels, soundtracks, and tech companies. Currently, Kolosine is an Associate Arts Professor and Business Area Head at the NYU Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, where he develops innovative courses like "3D Printing & The Music Industry" and "Music, Science & Futurism in the 21st Century", mentoring the next generation of music industry professionals.
Marc Plotkin
Marc Plotkin is an American Songwriting Award-Winning Artist, a Grammy Shortlisted Producer, a Bloomberg BusinessWeek Top 25 Entrepreneur, and a Professor at New York University's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. As a songwriter, singer, saxophonist, guitarist, producer, and engineer, Marc has had the pleasure of making music both in the studio and onstage with Jon Batiste, Sufjan Stevens, Ra Ra Riot, Panama Wedding, Pete Francis of Dispatch, Hiromi, Peter Himmelman, and many others.
Marc co-founded “DecisionDesk,” the first multimedia-enabled online application for colleges. He next founded “Wifi Music School,” an online marketplace for private music lessons via Skype with some of the top musicians and educators in the world, also acquired by Flint Hills Music. Marc is currently the founder and CEO of Beast Music A.I., a system he developed that completely reimagines traditional music marketing. Marc joined NYU's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music in 2016 and teaches courses that blend music creation with entrepreneurship and business. He regularly hosts a conversation series that has brought some of the most influential names in music, technology, and business to his students.
JD Samson
Since the early 2000s as a member of the feminist electro-pop band Le Tigre, Samson has gone on to work in almost every medium. A formidable songwriter, producer, visual artist, and internationally renowned DJ, Samson has amassed a body of work that not only spans a variety of fields—everything from pop music and fine art to curatorial work, political activism, and fashion—but has also helped galvanize NYC’s LGBT community. She has been photographed and featured everywhere from Interview to Vogue Homme and has written for the likes of the Huffington Post and Creative Review. A valiant supporter of LGBT issues, Samson has provided a glowing example for the lesbian and gender-queer communities.
Samson also began writing and producing for other artists, including Christina Aguilera, Cobra Starship, and Pussy Riot, co-writing the song "Don't Cry Genocide" for their appearance on House of Cards. For Samson, who is equally at home writing music for major label artists and playing music at a queer house party in a Bushwick basement, the ability to follow her artistic impulses has proven to be a recipe for both success and a happy life. In addition to her own creative endeavors, Samson co-founded and co-runs Atlas Chair, a record label aimed at serving as an incubator for emerging artists helping to develop the burgeoning careers of artists such as Baby Alpaca, Claude Violante, and Avan Lava.
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Transcript
Composition
What's the plan?
Prelude
Bibrazioak
Tempo
Designing the future
What's the plan?
Composition
Prelude
Designing the future
Shared visions
In harmony
Range Mentorship - Governance - Inclusion
Analysis in four stages
A new generation of connectors
Partition Listen to dissonances
Rhythmic Bases
AMPLIFY
Towards a clearer note range
Tempo
REACH Crescendo
Vibrations
Sources and Resources
Like an international orchestra
First waves
Experts
Voices
Downloadable
Resonances in the making
Sources and resources
Echoes
In Harmony
Prelude
Four-Stage Analysis
Rhythmic Bases
R.E.A.C.H is the result of a reflection carried out by a group of operators all involved in supporting young artists and cultural entrepreneurs. The Erasmus program has helped shape their desire to act concretely during a time of significant change in the cultural and creative sector, affirming shared values and fostering innovation and transmission.
Analysis in Four Steps
Weaknesses
Strengths
Opportunities
Threats
Rhythmic Bases
Shared values
The REACH project
Erasmus + ProgramYouth
TEMPO
REACH Crescendo
Like an international orchestra
R.E.A.C.H has been driven by a series of transnational symposiums, bringing together young entrepreneurs, youth facilitators, and mentors. Spaces for experimentation around shared practices, creations, and debates. To put young people in practical situations to meet with other cultural ecosystems and enrich their approach.
Crescendo
Symposium Stavanger June 2023
Meet the REACH ErasmusDays - Oct 2023
Symposium Milan June 2024
Symposium Donostia Oct 2024
Symposium New York March 2025
Colloquium Biarritz January 2025
REACH meet CDI
Fanzine
Fanzine
REACH meet ITP/IMA
REACH meet NYU Makerspace
REACH meet Photo & Imaging
REACH meet Tech culture and Society
Meet the REACH
International orchestra
Scope
Composition
Mentorship, cultural governance, inclusion of marginalized cultures
Partition
Field analyses
R.E.A.C.H. is an experiment, pragmatic but also driven by shared values. In a context where young cultural entrepreneurs seek to develop artistic and creative projects rooted locally but open internationally, support for their development involves tailored mechanisms that reflect their practices. The project allowed for the exchange of experiences and exploration of their expectations. It was based on an in-depth questioning of the entrepreneurs, which helped guide the work and outputs.
Scope
Mentorship
During the preparatory work, and throughout the meetings, three themes emerged particularly: mentorship, project governance, and the inclusion of marginalized cultures. These three dimensions, often addressed separately, can nevertheless be considered together to promote sustainable, equitable, and culturally adapted entrepreneurship facing contemporary challenges.
Governance
Inclusion
Mentoring A tailored support for project holders
Mentoring in the cultural field refers to a trusting relationship between a project holder and an experienced person (the mentor), who shares their knowledge, network, and advice. It is not just a simple skills transfer but a personalized support based on listening, dialogue, and recognizing the specific needs of the young entrepreneur. Especially, their value system. In a transnational context, mentoring takes on an intercultural dimension, requiring empathy, adaptation, and openness.
The stakes for REACH
Mentoring allows young entrepreneurs to benefit from peer or experienced professional feedback, facilitating understanding of implicit codes in the international cultural sector.Transnational exchange helps diversify mentor profiles and open learning to various cultural contexts.
Being mentored helps to overcome often felt isolation in the early stages of entrepreneurship.Exchanges between partner organizations enable the identification of effective practices for transnational networking and co-support.
Mentoring offers a space for experimentation and guided reflection, where mistakes become learning opportunities.Action research allows analyzing the effects of mentoring on resilience, adaptability, and strategic vision of entrepreneurs.
Enhancing entrepreneurial skills in a secure environment
Intercultural and sectoral experience transfer
Reducing isolation and developing networks
An appropriate governance, a condition for sustainability and legitimacy of projects
Governance in the cultural sector refers to modes of organization, decision-making, and project management. Often considered a purely administrative aspect, it is actually a central lever for empowerment, fairness among stakeholders, and legitimization of the project with funders or partners. Among young cultural entrepreneurs, governance is often intuitive and horizontal, but it can quickly become a barrier if not thought through collectively, adapted to the project's evolution, and aligned with institutional expectations.
The challenges for REACH
Governance influences the capacity of young entrepreneurs to communicate with public or private actors, obtain funding, or formalize agreements internationally.
The need for clear governance to structure projects over time
Many projects fail due to unclear roles, decision-making processes, or responsibility models.
The ability to negotiate with partners and institutions
Collaborative governance can serve as a factor of innovation and inclusion
Participative or shared governance promotes the mobilization of the public, collaborators, and partners around the project.
The inclusion of marginalized cultures: from recognition to co-construction
Young entrepreneurs from marginalized cultures—whether linguistic, ethnic, regional, or social—often face a double challenge: to have their cultural expression recognized and to find ways to valorize it within a often normative dominant framework. In relation to institutions, inclusion is not limited to a "vitrine diversity" approach but requires genuine co-construction of cultural policies, increased visibility, and equitable production conditions.
The challenges for REACH
In a globalization context, promoting culturally inclusive, multilingual projects that respect minority identities becomes a shared responsibility. Documenting and highlighting best practices is thus a lever to support fair and effective cultural policies.
Many young artists or project leaders from marginalized cultures face structural obstacles (language, recognition, networks). Objectifying these obstacles helps to co-construct appropriate responses with the stakeholders involved.
The inclusion of marginalized cultures opens up to hybrid art forms, alternative narratives, and original aesthetics. The challenge is to find ways to value these expressions in international artistic scenes that are often standardized.
The ethical and political imperative in globalization contexts
The necessity to fight against cultural invisibility
The creative richness stemming from cultural diversity
Sheet music
From the launch of the R.E.A.C.H. project, the question of audience expectations was central - Listening to the dissonances - A structured questionnaire allowed us to inquire about the activity framework, positioning, and the relationships to transversal issues (inclusion, sustainability, digital), of young entrepreneurs, as well as their mentoring needs. These reflective feedbacks, which continued throughout the project, guided the overall direction - Towards a clearer note range -, informed the organization of symposiums, the project follow-up with the Agency, reflections on open educational resources, and especially the design of two MOOCs. All in line with the values of the Erasmus+ program and the transnational ambition of REACH.
Listen to the dissonances
Towards a clearer note range
Listen to dissonances
The methodology
The questionnaire
2. Position entrepreneurs within their reference framework
3. Situate cultural entrepreneurs in relation to cross-cutting issues
1. Evaluate the activity framework of young creators
5. Incorporate digital issues
4. Incorporate sustainable development issues
6. What kind of mentoring is suitable
Towards clearer grade scope
This reflexivity has enriched the approach, fostered collective reflection among partners, remotely and during symposiums. These exchanges have allowed for adjustments to the project implementation and guided the production of open resources. Three MOOCs have emerged from this, rooted in Erasmus+ values. They aim for broad dissemination, serving multiple uses: young artists, entrepreneurs, trainers, coaches, teachers, or decision-makers in the cultural sector.
Reflection – Action – Transmission A collective dynamic
From analysis to collective reflection
This approach has helped anchor the project while structuring a shared understanding of the challenges of mentoring, creating in a minority context, and digital transition.
Analysis and contextualization of the questionnaire results
Successive feedback from participants at various symposiums
Theoretical contributions from each partner
The method
Crossing experiencesSharing knowledge Collectively refining needs Adjusting course in real-time
Hear the voices
Massive Open Online Courses
A MOOC is a format for sharing knowledge that combines accessibility, modularity, and rich content. Open to everyone, they allow learning at your own pace, according to your needs, in a flexible and evolving digital environment. These MOOCs have been designed as shareable and reusable resources, created to equip, inspire, guide, or structure entrepreneurial projects and support initiatives across a variety of contexts. In this sense, these MOOCs are meant to circulate, be shared, remixed, translated, and adapted.
First waves
Vibrations
Resonances in progress
The dissemination of results is at the heart of the R.E.A.C.H. dynamic. It is not limited to the final valorization of the project: it starts from the initial actions, mobilizes diverse networks (institutional, alternative, digital) and produces direct and indirect effects. For project leaders as well as for Erasmus+, this proactive approach is essential to ensure impact, reappropriation, and sustainability of the content.
Voices
Echoes
Vibrations - First waves
The dissemination of results is at the heart of the R.E.A.C.H. dynamic. It is not limited to the final valorization of the project: it begins with the first actions, mobilizes various networks (institutional, alternative, digital), and produces direct and indirect effects. For project leaders and Erasmus+, this proactive approach is essential to ensure impact, ownership, and sustainability of the content.
Direct international involvement
Participation in public events
Meet the REACH event Stavanger: 37 cultural professionals
Public Meet the REACH - Erasmus Days - Atabal : 700 people
Public Biarritz Conference - Atabal : 700 people
Institutions and Cultural Professionals Biarritz Conference - Atabal : 38 people
Vibrations - First waves
Instagram posts, sharing highlights of the project, generated strong engagement. The announcement of the Biarritz symposium alone reached over 10,000 views, while subsequent posts accumulated over 20,000 views, demonstrating growing interest. These communication tools, outside traditional institutional channels, have allowed reaching a young, creative audience, often distant from conventional support structures.
Just a few examples!
VOIX
Our Creative Booth set up during the Biarritz Conference allowed us to gather advice and tips from mentors, young artists, and youth actors, group coordinators. Here, we present some contributions that showcase their journeys, their expectations for the project, the added value of support rooted in artistic practice, attentive to local realities, and what R.E.A.C.H. has enabled them to explore
Mentors
Musicians
Youth actors
Visual artists
Resonances in the Making
Resources in continuous vibration
From the first collaborations between mentors, the production of Free Educational Resources (FER) has played a central role in the REACH project. The MOOC format, modular and adaptable, naturally established itself as the main transmission vector for several reasons:
Rooted in mentors' practices Mentors, trainers, university professionals, and support staff involved in REACH are accustomed to encouraging autonomous work and knowledge transfer. The MOOC fits into this pedagogical culture.
Accessibility and online dissemination Thanks to free and open online access, content can be used and adapted across various contexts. They rely on partner networks to reach a broad audience, without filters.
A resource aggregatorMOOCs compile:
Echoes
The R.E.A.C.H. project is based on a strong belief: it is through cooperation among cultural actors, at different scales and in various fields, that we can imagine new models of support for young creators. The dynamic mapping of the R.E.A.C.H. network is made up of cultural structures, fablabs, training venues, associations, dissemination spaces, shared spaces, and institutional partners. By building connections between these resources and people, the R.E.A.C.H. network is created as a living, evolving, inclusive ecosystem rooted in the territories. It serves as a tool for emancipation, professionalization, and openness for young cultural entrepreneurs.
Designing the future
The R.E.A.C.H. project laid the foundations for a transnational, inclusive, and creative approach to supporting young cultural entrepreneurs. Building on the results achieved, the partners now aim to amplify the project's impact through three complementary dynamics.
Shared visions: transmission as a collective work
Emergence of a new generation of transmitters
Launch of the Amplify project
These perspectives extend the learnings from R.E.A.C.H. while initiating a scale change and a shift in approach — from testing to sustainable deployment.
Shared visions: transmission as a collective work
R.E.A.C.H. has generated numerous educational resources – MOOCs and their components (tool sheets, methodological kits, testimonials, etc.) – designed to support young creatives in their journeys. To extend their usefulness, it is essential to improve their accessibility, ensure continuous enhancement, and promote their appropriation in various contexts.
Build on existing productions
Mobilize key actors
Continuously improve
Create new MOOCs
A new generation of connectors
Mentees turned mentors
One of the strengths of the R.E.A.C.H. project lies in the trust built between mentors and young people and/or youth workers. Some of these young people, now more experienced, wish to get involved or are involved in support roles. Supporting them in this transition, training them in the mentor role, and providing spaces for action helps foster a new generation of connectors. This dynamic ensures the continuity of the project's spirit while strengthening local creative communities. The objectives are:
Identify and highlight engaged journeys Train in the mentor role (active listening, interculturality…) Create intergenerational pairs with former mentors Support learning communities, online or local Document stories to inspire other young people to get involved
AMPLIFY A new collective composition
2025- 2028
The partners of R.E.A.C.H. open, by expanding the partnership, a new cycle of action focused on inclusion, recognition, and the professionalization of young creatives from minorities. This project, coordinated by Combustible, mobilizes an expanded and diverse consortium to individually support audiences distant from the resources and networks of the ICCs. It combines informal learning, mentorship, and international cooperation within an ambitious framework aligned with Erasmus+ priorities. AMPLIFY extends and deepens the values of R.E.A.C.H. from a social justice perspective.
Improve the quality of non-formal socio-educational activities within organizations to support the professionalization of young creatives facing economic difficulties and gender, sexual, and cultural discrimination. Promote the inclusion of young creatives with fewer opportunities in the employment dynamics of the cultural and creative industries, from local to international levels, through partnerships and informal learning initiatives.
Objectives
Latest notes
R.E.A.C.H. has sown the seeds of a fairer, more open, and more grounded cultural support, aligned with the realities of young creatives. The initiatives presented here aim to nurture these seeds through the smart dissemination of resources, active peer-to-peer transmission, and the launch of an ambitious new project with AMPLIFY. By focusing on cooperation, complementarity, and inclusion, partners are shaping a future where young talents can learn, express themselves, share, and build in turn.
Experts REACH
Flo Gil de Muro Fuel
Jean-Louis Puyo Fuel
Jacques Chabrillat Fuel
Indiana Debacq Fuel
Carine Puyo Fuel
Marco Bocola Vectorealism
Eleonora Ricca Vectorealism
Marc Plotkin Clive Davis Institute
Jeff Peretz Clive Davis Institute
Errol Koloskine Clive Davis Institute
JD Samson Clive Davis Institute
Brianne Hayes Clive Davis Institute
Nick Sansano Clive Davis Institute
Bobby Wooten Clive Davis Institute
Alan Billi Usopop
Areta Senosiain Music Office
Arkaitz Villar Music Office
Mike Errico Clive Davis Institute
Resources
All videos and useful links included in this presentation are available on this page. Enjoy exploring!
Videos (in order of appearance)
Young musicians on the Power of Coming Together
R.E.A.C.H. - PART 1 - Stavanger, Norway June 2023
Young designers and photographers on the Power of Coming Together
R.E.A.C.H. PART 2 - Milan, Italy June 2024
R.E.A.C.H. residency: Reflections from the coordinators
R.E.A.C.H. - PART 3 - Biarritz / Pays Basque January 2025
Tips from the R.E.A.C.H. Project Experts
R.E.A.C.H. Project @ATABAL January 2025
Music Tips & Tracks from the R.E.A.C.H. Crew
R.E.A.C.H. Project - Erasmus Days October 2023
Links
R.E.A.C.H. Project - New York City Symposium March 2025
MOOC - Governance & Mentoring
MOOC - Cultural and Creative Entrepreneurship
MOOC - Creating a Symposium
MOOCs - The Complete Toolbox
Map of the REACH Network
Creative and Cultural Sector Consultation Form
Questioning structure
The REACH project positions environmental issues as a potentially structuring dimension of relevant and truly operational cultural and creative entrepreneurship in its era. This issue is first addressed from the perspective of practices already in place or integrated into the project. The question of the challenges faced by the company then explores the development approach considered. Knowledge of resources and access to these resources is the subject of a third set of questions: existing programs, training, advice… Finally, the entrepreneur is invited to consider this sustainable development topic in terms of its potential for the creative sector.
Bobby Wooten
Bobby Wooten III is a composer/producer/instrumentalist raised in Chicago, IL. He credits his family’s gospel Wooten Choral Ensemble as his main influence & inspiration. Bobby has written/produced/recorded with David Byrne, Carly Rae Jepsen, Post Malone, Jennifer Lopez, Mac Miller, Jennifer Hudson, Rick Ross, Machine Gun Kelly, Jake Troth, among others. Commercial production credits include Empire TV series, Google, Adidas, Lebron James, ESPN, among others. Bobby composed & produced the score for the 2023 film "Rare Objects." Broadway credits include Moulin Rouge! & the Grammy/Emmy-nominated & Tony-winning production of David Byrne's American Utopia, the latter filmed by Spike Lee. In 2020, Bobby launched the internet series "America, Learn Your History." In two minute episodes, he retells history as seen through a minority lens –– Revisiting stories that have been misunderstood, misled, or lied upon in American education.
Forces
The REACH project relies on experienced partners recognized for their expertise in education, international project management, and cultural innovation. These strong and complementary organizations cover a wide artistic spectrum, from contemporary and classical music to alternative and marginalized cultures. Their shared commitment to creative entrepreneurship and inclusion makes REACH a dynamic ecosystem, providing young creators with tailored support to meet sector challenges.
Brianne Hayes
Brianne has been with The Clive Davis Institute since its very early days in 2005. She began her time at CDI as the first Administrative Aide of the department, and as the department expanded, she became the first Administrative Coordinator. Now, in her role as Administrative Director, she is integral to the big picture planning and development for the Institute and oversees all day-to-day administrative activities, including managing the annual budget, advising and assisting students with issues, leading the admissions process, and scheduling courses and hiring faculty, etc. You name it!
Conference of Biarritz by Combustible
International restitution and perspective-taking conference of the project, organized at the Atabal, contemporary music stage.
Presentation of the young artists participating in the Conference
Presentation of the mentors
Presentation of youth actors - Coordinators of the young artists groups
Presentation of the Atabal support team
Questioning structure
In its transnational dimensions, the REACH project questions the role of digital technology in the evolution of cultural and creative entrepreneurship and the positioning of young creators regarding their relationship with this aspect of their projects, at different levels. First, on the direct impacts of digital technology on their project: at the level of artistic creation itself, its shaping, and then its dissemination.
Next, regarding the perceived potential for deploying the business, especially in relation to audiences: territorial development, fine interaction modalities, development of an enhanced user experience, etc. The barriers or difficulties related to access to this resource are the subject of a third set of questions: cost, skills, rights issues, attention span, etc. Finally, on a more meta level, the entrepreneur is invited to evaluate the impact of digital technology on artistic creation within their field.
Mike Errico
New York-based recording artist, writer, and professor Mike Errico has built his name on the strength of critically acclaimed releases and extensive composition for film and TV. He has taught songwriting at universities including Yale, Wesleyan, and the New School, and was nominated for 2019’s David Payne-Carter Award for Excellence in Teaching. He is the author of Music, Lyrics, and Life: A Field Guide for the Advancing Songwriter, which is required reading in arts programs across the country.
Donostia Symposium by Musika Bulegoa
The mentors gathered in October 2024 to discuss Basque culture, interculturality, and creation in cross-border territory
List of participants and hosts of the Symposium
Stavanger Symposium by ELEFANT
The first project symposium held in Stavanger facilitated discussions around local music scenes and artistic support.
The Italian team
The French and Basque teams
The American team
The Norwegian team
Jeff Peretz
Multi-instrumentalist/producer Jeff Peretz is an Associate Arts professor, the Music Director, and the coordinator of the Musicianship & Songwriting area at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. Jeff has recorded and/or performed with Mark Ronson, Lana Del Ray, Jay-Z, Rock Wilder, Daniel Merriweather, Corrine Baily Rea, Tim Robbins and Stanley Clarke. He is the founder and principal composer for Abu Gara. His books include Zen and the Art of Guitar, Guitar Atlas: Cuba, and Guitar Atlas: The Middle East and he recently contributed the musical analysis to the NYTimes best seller: Dilla Time.
The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, the Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm. As “America’s Pop Musicologist, he has written music for television, film and stage and as Michael J Fox's personal guitar coach for the past 12 years, he has prepared, arranged and successfully directed Michael's performances with such artists as The Who, Chris Martin, and the Roots for the MJFox Foundation's annual benefit "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Cure.” He has been a faculty member of the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music since 2006 and a full-time faculty member since 2013. Jeff has taught at The New School University, and Marymount Manhattan College. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Third Street Music Settlement School in lower Manhattan and a member of the Les Paul Advisory Council
Threats
The REACH project is evolving in a context where the links between public and private actors supporting young cultural entrepreneurs remain insufficient, limiting collaboration and funding opportunities. Furthermore, a lack of mutual understanding between young people and the organizations that support them hinders the creation of synergies, especially for alternative and marginalized cultures. Finally, the absence of suitable dialogue and cooperation mechanisms prevents these young entrepreneurs and their organizations from being fully involved in the development of policies that concern them, thereby reducing their ability to influence their own ecosystem.
This MOOC is aimed at all those who wish to organize a collaborative cultural event rooted in a territory: symposium, artistic meeting, creative forum, or practice laboratory. Based on experiences conducted in Stavanger, Milan, Donostia, and Biarritz within the framework of R.E.A.C.H., this MOOC offers concrete tools to plan, build, and facilitate a symposium, while promoting methods of collective intelligence, transnational cooperation, and the inclusion of young project leaders.
Questioning Structure
The second level of questions concerns young entrepreneurs' understanding of their needs within the professional environment of their business. Knowledge of administrative, regulatory, and institutional dimensions constitutes a second level of reflexivity. The focus then shifts to identified opportunities, with an initial emphasis on the international dimension. Finally, a review of the institutional environment is established in the form of proposals to improve support for projects.
Questioning structure
This section contributes to the work of the REACH project by adapting mentoring mechanisms and tools for young creative entrepreneurs at a transnational level. It takes a reverse approach by exploring their perception of mentoring, identifying their knowledge acquisition needs, their familiarity with this type of support, the expected benefits, and the strategic interest in its use. It also examines suitable formats and access difficulties to these resources, while gathering recommendations to improve their accessibility. The results will help optimize support mechanisms based on entrepreneurs' expectations.
Eleonora Ricca
Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design. Co-founded Vectorealism in 2009, driven by a deep passion for creating and making things real, with the goal of providing everyone the opportunity to make things and access cutting-edge technologies. Currently, she teaches laser cutting at SIAM and Innovation in Materials and Technology at Domus Academy. When her head is not immersed in the laser cutter, her other hyperfixation is dogs and looking at peculiar animals and memes on the internet.
Shared Values
Inclusion & Diversity. Like a museum enriched by the diversity of its artworks, Erasmus+ promotes an inclusive society, offering opportunities to young people from disadvantaged or underrepresented cultures.
Learning & Sharing. The Erasmus+ program encourages intergenerational learning and the exchange of knowledge between professionals and young talents.
International Cooperation. Like music bringing together languages and cultures, Erasmus+ builds bridges between European countries and beyond.
Innovation & Creativity. Innovation is at the heart of Erasmus+, encouraging young people to experiment with new artistic, economic, and pedagogical approaches.
Musika Bulegoa
Musika Bulegoa is an organization that works with public entities to support the Basque music sector. We specialize in organizing training sessions, conducting workshops, promoting awareness projects, providing advice & support to entrepreneurs, advocating for diversity, organizing LGBTQ+ conferences, supporting internationalization, and more.
Alan Billi
Alan is a multi-instrumentalist known for his work as a musician and producer with the bands Orbel, The Rodeo Idiot Engine, and VENIL, as well as with his solo project PALECOAL, which has just released a debut LP blending alternative Hip-Hop with Industrial and Post-Digital soundscapes. He is also part of the Basque collective Usopop, which organizes shows, festivals, and releases records for some of the most innovative Basque artists.
Jacques Chabrillat
Jacques Chabrillat, Ph.D. graduate in management sciences, is an expert in financial and budgetary engineering who directs pedagogical activities at AGECIF, collaborates with government agencies on training and consultancy, supports Le Moulin in Marseille, and sits on the board of the Eurockéennes festival.
Areta Senosiain
After completing violin and orchestra studies, she continued exploring new styles and formats, delving into the string quartet and a band with which she currently offers numerous concerts throughout Euskal Herria, called Ibil Bedi. A few years ago she discovered cultural management and after completing a master's degree, she delved into the Musika Bulegoa project, with the hope of continuing to work in the music sector from another point of view.
Flo Gil de Muro
Flo Gil de Muro, with a background in gender studies and sociology of health , has been deeply involved in LGBTQIA+ cultural activism, including organizing queer film and music festivals and working in community health for marginalized communities. Since joining Combustible in January 2024, Flo has focused on producing open educational resources and documenting methodologies for international projects, building on extensive experience in advocacy, education, and creative projects like music and podcast production.
Nicholas Sansano
Nick began his professional career in earnest at Greene Street Recording in NYC, recording and mixing for a variety of seminal Hip Hop and Alternative Music artists - including Public Enemy, Ice Cube, Rob Base, and Run DMC. His work in early Hip Hop attracted the attention of Sonic Youth, with whom he would co-produce and record the albums "Daydream Nation" and "Goo," two critically acclaimed and historic alternative music releases.
Sonic Youth's "Daydream Nation" and Public Enemy’s "It Takes a Nation of Millions" and "Fear of Black Planet" were selected for inclusion in the US Library of Congress Archive of Culturally Significant American Recordings. Nick's genre-crossing work has taken him around the world, producing music in Australia, New Zealand, and all throughout Europe. In France, he found success producing multi-platinum recordings for the groups IAM, Zebda and Noir Desir – blending French pop genres with musicians from North Africa, Spain, and the Middle East. His francophone work has earned three Victoire De La Musique Awards from the French Recording Academy. In all, Nick has been awarded over 17 Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Record awards worldwide. Despite the commercial success, it is his work outside the mainstream with artists such as Le Tigre, Galactic, Peter Mulvey, The Grassy Knoll, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, The Pop Group, and Mbongeni Ngema that defines who he is as a musician, recordist, and producer. He remains an active performer with his experimental group, The Bronze Fondue.
Indiana Debacq
Indiana, with a background in Economics and a Master’s in International Negotiation focused on the Arab world, has worked several years on EU-funded projects promoting microenterprise and cultural development in Cairo, Egypt. An experienced translator for international organizations, she joined Combustible in April 2022, bringing her expertise in economic and cultural initiatives.
Questioning Structure
The REACH project emphasizes the need to connect cultural and creative entrepreneurship with the overarching issues of the time. The questionnaire then includes a series of questions about the positioning of young creators on various topics. The first point concerns inclusion and diversity dimensions within the entrepreneurial project. The second questions the entrepreneur about their personal situation regarding belonging to a marginalized culture (gender, disability, language, ...) This second point is developed around the specific challenges the entrepreneur might face. Finally, an assessment of the institutional environment is provided in the form of policy proposals to promote inclusion.
Jean-Louis Puyo
Polymorphic artist, Jean-Louis has led the group Bubblies since 1991, conceived award-winning hearing risk prevention projects and pioneered the musical USB key in 2006. As a relay and advisor to numerous artists, he deploys his skills in project management strategy and team management. He is familiar with issues in the phonographic industry as well as those of developing artists.
Opportunities
The REACH project is part of a favorable context marked by a growing need for innovation in the creative and cultural sectors, particularly to rethink governance models after the COVID crisis. The strong demand from young entrepreneurs for mentorship tailored to current challenges – inclusion, ecology, digital, and living together – reinforces the relevance of the initiative. Additionally, the new Erasmus+ program provides a more accessible and structured framework, facilitating exchanges and networking. Finally, the enthusiasm generated by previous projects has created significant expectations within partner ecosystems, thus strengthening the commitment and potential impact of REACH.
Clive Davis Institute New York
The Clive Davis Institute is a department of the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, renowned worldwide for its artistic studies. Our mission is to equip students with the necessary skills, whether entrepreneurial, creative, or intellectual, to foster visionary and cultural entrepreneurs in an ever-evolving international music industry.
To launch the R.E.A.C.H. project, we surveyed young cultural entrepreneurs using a structured questionnaire. Objectives: understand their profiles, identify their professional environment, and grasp their expectations. Their feedback highlighted four key areas: activity profile, relationship with institutions, cross-cutting issues (inclusion, sustainability, digital technology), and mentoring expectations. A solid foundation to refine our actions and anticipate suitable, widely shareable outputs.
Weaknesses
The partnership features a diversity of mentor and beneficiary profiles, which requires constant adaptation of support methods. Managing an international network with varied cultural and economic realities also complicates coordination and implementation of actions. Additionally, although each partner has recognized expertise, integrating digital innovations and new governance models demands a collective effort of adaptation and ongoing training.
This MOOC is aimed at mentors, facilitators, mediators, educators, or program managers. It offers an in-depth analysis of the issues related to mentoring in the cultural and creative industries, taking into account multicultural contexts, power dynamics, management tools, and new forms of online or hybrid support.
Arkaitz Villar
Since 2019, Arkaitz has been working as a Project Manager at the Euskal Herriko Musika Bulego Elkartea association. His responsibilities include promoting Basque music at various international professional fairs, managing the communications team, and organizing and hosting key events such as Kluster and DA! Pro. Arkaitz is also deeply involved in supporting young Basque artists in the music sector by providing them with essential tools and resources to develop their projects and gain access to relevant professional platforms. In parallel, he coordinates the activities of BASQUE. MUSIC., an initiative dedicated to the promotion of Basque music. Arkaitz’s expertise in the Basque music industry stems from his experience as a radio host for EITB, where he ran a program until 2020 focusing on the professional music sector in the Basque Country, covering all aspects of the industry—from musicians to festivals.
Vectorealism - Milan
Vectorealism is a design and prototyping studio specialized in digital manufacturing. Pioneers of the Makers movement in Italy. Our activity focuses on digital manufacturing services, research, and training with three main target areas: a FabLab in Milan, an online digital manufacturing service, and a creative and consulting design studio.
Milan Symposium by Vectorealism
Participants gathered in June 2024 to explore collaborative design, digital fabrication, and creative experiments.
The Italian team
The French and Basque teams
The American team
New York Symposium by the Clive Davis Institute
16 mentors meet in New York in March 2025 to discuss career structuring and mentoring dynamics on a global scale.
The welcome booklet including the participant presentation at the Symposium
This MOOC is primarily aimed at young creative entrepreneurs, but it can also be used by trainers, incubators, or cultural institutions. It explores major changes in the cultural sector, the specifics of creative entrepreneurship, hybrid economic models, the impact of digital technology and globalization, development strategies, and contemporary forms of audience engagement.
The REACH project
The cultural and creative industries have radically changed with digital technology, transforming modes of production and distribution. In current music, traditional structures (producers, distributors, specialized media) have been replaced by digital platforms, algorithms, and influencers, promoting an economy based on attention rather than creation. Independent artists and those from marginalized cultures now need to master entrepreneurial skills, navigate globalized environments, and develop new governance strategies. Despite these challenges, they are also key players in cultural innovation.
The REACH project addresses these issues by: ✔ Supporting specialized mentors to guide young creators. ✔ Developing an international support network for cultural entrepreneurship. ✔ Organizing symposiums and a colloquium to share expertise and strengthen collaborations. ✔ Producing accessible resources to ensure the project's lasting impact. The goal is to provide young cultural entrepreneurs with appropriate tools to thrive in this new ecosystem and to ensure inclusive and sustainable creativity.
Questioning structure
The first set of questions concerns the "identity" of the person: age, gender, geographic location, and initial training. The entrepreneurial project is then positioned concerning a reference creative field. The entrepreneur is then positioned in terms of roles and occupations assumed in this project. Finally, the company is approached from the perspective of its legal form, on the one hand, and its turnover, on the other.
These positioning elements of the project holder relative to their company already allow for pre-positioning mentoring: In terms of direct resources to bring to the entrepreneur; In terms of possible intersections with other cultural projects that could enrich the creator's approach.
Carine Puyo
Carine, co-founder and manager of the association Combustible since 2005, is an expert in structuring participatory projects in the cultural and social economy sectors, providing support to entrepreneurs in art, socio-cultural, digital, and sports initiatives. With a strong background in cultural project development and sociology, she also works as a consultant and brings two decades of experience as a musician in the DIY music scene, offering deep insights into contemporary music and live performance.
This online questionnaire aims to understand the needs of young cultural entrepreneurs to adapt mentorship programs. Structured into four parts, it gathers information about their profile, constraints and opportunities, their alignment with the values of the REACH project, and their mentorship needs. The analysis is based on three axes: self-assessment, expression of needs, and relationship with existing resources. The results will help refine mentorship content, optimize support, and adapt policies to support the cultural and creative sector.
Marco Bocola
Marco began his career in Milan’s creative industry in his early twenties, with a strong interest in copywriting and digital content creation. Motivated by his natural curiosity and a genuine desire to explore different fields, he actively looked for opportunities to contribute to various creative business ventures. This included his involvement in a software startup in the Republic of Moldova and his participation in a sociological research project examining the history of made in Italy design. He holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Studies and Management from the Catholic University of Milan, giving him a solid foundation in business and organizational dynamics.
The program Erasmus+ Youth
The Erasmus+ Youth program aims to support projects that, like REACH, enable young people to: ✔ Develop their skills through formal and non-formal learning experiences. ✔ Open up internationally through cultural and professional exchanges. ✔ Experiment with new models of cultural and creative entrepreneurship suited to contemporary challenges. In this spirit, REACH acts as a collective musical composition, where each project participant plays an essential note to create a unique synergy between mentoring, governance, and cultural inclusion.
Based on the foundation that melody and harmony rely on, the Erasmus+ program forms the backbone of the REACH project. It provides a structuring and dynamic framework, promoting mobility, learning, and innovation for young cultural and creative entrepreneurs.
Combustible - Biarritz
Combustible is a laboratory of innovative cultural initiatives, with over two decades of experience in live performance, artistic creation, networking, cultural mediation & digital technology. We provide consulting & training, co-production, and production services for young cultural & creative entrepreneurs, especially those from underground and D.I.Y. cultures.
Errol Kolosine
Errol Kolosine is a music industry executive, producer, and educator with a career spanning decades in music business, artist management, soundtracks, and new media. He joined Caroline / Astralwerks in New York, where he spent 14 years, rising to General Manager in 1999. Under his leadership, the label became a powerhouse, working with top-selling and Grammy-winning artists such as The Chemical Brothers, Air, Beth Orton, Fatboy Slim, Brian Eno, Sia, Hot Chip, and Royksopp.
Kolosine also made a mark in soundtracks and licensing, serving as Music Supervisor or Executive Producer on films like Being John Malkovich, V for Vendetta, and Rango, as well as video games and TV shows like SSX-3 and Heroes. He received a Grammy nomination as Executive Producer for the Six Feet Under soundtrack. After leaving Astralwerks, he founded Modern Frequencies, a platform for artist advocacy, management, and consulting, working with The Chemical Brothers and various labels, soundtracks, and tech companies. Currently, Kolosine is an Associate Arts Professor and Business Area Head at the NYU Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, where he develops innovative courses like "3D Printing & The Music Industry" and "Music, Science & Futurism in the 21st Century", mentoring the next generation of music industry professionals.
Marc Plotkin
Marc Plotkin is an American Songwriting Award-Winning Artist, a Grammy Shortlisted Producer, a Bloomberg BusinessWeek Top 25 Entrepreneur, and a Professor at New York University's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. As a songwriter, singer, saxophonist, guitarist, producer, and engineer, Marc has had the pleasure of making music both in the studio and onstage with Jon Batiste, Sufjan Stevens, Ra Ra Riot, Panama Wedding, Pete Francis of Dispatch, Hiromi, Peter Himmelman, and many others.
Marc co-founded “DecisionDesk,” the first multimedia-enabled online application for colleges. He next founded “Wifi Music School,” an online marketplace for private music lessons via Skype with some of the top musicians and educators in the world, also acquired by Flint Hills Music. Marc is currently the founder and CEO of Beast Music A.I., a system he developed that completely reimagines traditional music marketing. Marc joined NYU's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music in 2016 and teaches courses that blend music creation with entrepreneurship and business. He regularly hosts a conversation series that has brought some of the most influential names in music, technology, and business to his students.
JD Samson
Since the early 2000s as a member of the feminist electro-pop band Le Tigre, Samson has gone on to work in almost every medium. A formidable songwriter, producer, visual artist, and internationally renowned DJ, Samson has amassed a body of work that not only spans a variety of fields—everything from pop music and fine art to curatorial work, political activism, and fashion—but has also helped galvanize NYC’s LGBT community. She has been photographed and featured everywhere from Interview to Vogue Homme and has written for the likes of the Huffington Post and Creative Review. A valiant supporter of LGBT issues, Samson has provided a glowing example for the lesbian and gender-queer communities.
Samson also began writing and producing for other artists, including Christina Aguilera, Cobra Starship, and Pussy Riot, co-writing the song "Don't Cry Genocide" for their appearance on House of Cards. For Samson, who is equally at home writing music for major label artists and playing music at a queer house party in a Bushwick basement, the ability to follow her artistic impulses has proven to be a recipe for both success and a happy life. In addition to her own creative endeavors, Samson co-founded and co-runs Atlas Chair, a record label aimed at serving as an incubator for emerging artists helping to develop the burgeoning careers of artists such as Baby Alpaca, Claude Violante, and Avan Lava.