New open call online! Apply for Sopot, Poland from 19 till 29 February down below!

Mission

The Playground Residence is there to offer you, a professional musician, time and space to engage in (practice based) research and development, or create new and adventurous work. Because you are a music creator and you need adventures and some headspace you can't get at home. Meeting like minded artists and industry professionals broadens your horizon. Our mission is to provide a playground. A place to meet other like minded professionals and to provide a place to learn from eachother. But also a place to cooperate on making our planet a little healthier and kinder thru music.

Why?

There are several 'why's'. Here are some important ones :-):

- Music is an artform, and one that renews itself and grows all the time. It's not only an artform, but also a major economical system.  Especially in pop, jazz and contemporary music. Popular music and the industry we build around it, is often about 'efficiency' and volatile moves. To make great music, you have to take your time. That's why we stay away from short writing camps and one day studio sessions. We provide time and space to recharge the battery and build a international network in good company.

- We want to offer a safe haven for both performing, creating, and organizing musicians. No matter what gender, etnicity, or background you have. And because a lot of professional musicians are male, we strongly encourage not-males to apply! Our safe playground is always mixed m/f/x and our crew helps our residents to develop and maintain an open mind towards eachother.

- During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, it became clear that musicians weren't able to practice the most important part of their profession: playing together in real life (besides performing for a reallife audience). Musicians build their networks by playing together and enjoying eachothers company. With The Playground Residence we are offering time and space to make music.

How?

- The Playground Residence provides professional musicians  with a place to create and engage. Not a just a weekend, but at least ten days at several locations across Europe.

- It's about the process, not about the product. If a musician wants to work in solitude, we offer a private room and workspace. We also provide group spaces and bigger studios. We think it's fun and good to meet like minded professionals, with a healthy amount of privacy.

- The entire artistic product stays with its creator. Unlike writing camps, in The Playground Residence musicians can keep all rights and credits on songs and other created materials.

- The Playground Residence is there for professional musicians who need to recharge, broaden their horizons, or simply want new inspiration. We focus on music professionals (musicians, content creators and enterpreneurs), between 20 and 80 years old.

- Besides providing a playground for musicians, we also offer several activities in which residents can engage, with a focus on social and environmental situations. This varies from taking a city tour, participating in gender equality workshops, sitting around a camp fire, or business meetings and listening sessions at record companies.

- There will be two major residency projects each year in 2023 and 2024. Besides the main residencies we set up four peer meetings and gatherings per year. Those will take place in the digital universe and with our partners in The Netherlands, Germany and Poland.

About

The Playground Residence takes please at different locations around Europe. In 2023 and 2024 in The Netherlands Germany and Poland. Sometimes in a big metropolitan city, close enough to the vibrant clubs to enjoy a good party, and far away enough to really focus on your own, new music and ideas. And sometimes in a quiet environment, in the middle of nature. There are always multiple music writing rooms available, all equipped with studio monitoring, audio interface, table, chairs and power supply. Some of them are equipped with a full band backline. Our group accommodation is suited for 20 residents. Several rooms have private bathrooms, and there are plenty communal spaces like living rooms, a small theater, a small bar and a garden.

For whom

The Playground Residence is there for professional musicians (creators, performers, organizers). In 2023 and 2024 we focus on professionals from The Netherlands, Germany and Poland. If you’re looking for a place to hyperfocus on your music, write your business plan, but also interact with peers in your studio, have lunch, diner or a drink together with inspiring peers, then this is your place to be!

Where?

In 2023 and 2024 we will organize The Playground Residence four times in total. Several times during summer in Berlin (DE), in the winter in Sopot (PL), and in the early fall in The Netherlands.

When?

Upcoming: The Playground Residence in Sopot, Poland, from February 19th till February 29th 2024.
Upcoming: The Playground Residence in Berlin, Germany (extra long edition from July 25th and August 8th, 2024)
Upcoming: The Playground Residence thru The Netherlands (t.b.a.)

Open call:
Open now: Sopot, Poland (February 19-29th) via form on this website.

Residents for The Playground Residence are selected on the based on the provided portfolio and a questionnaire. We invite whom we believe in and who we want to give a chance to create new work or to continue working on a project. Those who come, are not here by chance. 

All applications will be reviewed and selected by our advisory board (more info down below). Every applicant receives a written substantiation after the selection process. When selecting the group, we focus on: 

• creating a diverse group with differents (social) backgrounds, genders, genres etc. 
• demographic spread (seniors, mediors and juniors)
• different skills (we like to mix songwriters, managers, drummers, etc.)
• different social backgrounds
• full availability (there's no hopping on or off for just a day or two, only the full residency)
• we invite professional artists, ready to dive deep in their artistic process. 
• we invite artists with a broad and international approach on their work 

During The Playground Residence you get:

- full board, completely carbon neutral stay, public transport included

- time and space to work on your own music and with peers

- interesting lectures on (non-)music related subjects

- meetings with industry professionals

- lots of jam sessions and studio sessions

In return, we may ask you to share your The Playground Residence-experience during peer meetings we organize at several locations in the digital universe and at our residency locations. This way you can actively take part in creating knowledge about informal and non-formal learning in pop music.

Stuff you have to take care of:

- you have to pay a fee (depending on the location and partner from €150 till €350) to take part.

- trip to the residency location and back home

- you have to bring you own musical instrument

We're a bunch of music enthusiasts, who are always there to help other professionals develop themselves. We have years of experience working for music platforms, universities, and music development programs. We joined forces to create the ultimate residency platform for professional musicians. Stichting Playgar (Playgar Foundation) organizes the residency projects. See 'organisations involved' to discover who is currently helping us.

We are currently expanding our board. Stichting Playgar has currently three boardmembers: Sander Ruijters, Jorien Stravens, and Dr. Virgil Rerimassie, with a vacant spot for a fourth member. Daily operations are ran by the following professionals. Besides all the professionals and organisations mentioned down below,  Marie Fol and Frank Kimenai are involved as independent advisors.

Our team for practical stuff: