OutStanding Music is stepping in as a new voice for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Canadian music.
The new national organization is dedicated to inviting 2SLGBTQIA+ voices into the Canadian music landscape and allow them to thrive within it, and is set to launch on Oct. 1 at the BreakOut West festival and conference in Victoria, B.C. OutStanding is looking to build with queer artists and industry personnel by providing them with mentorship, advocacy, professional development and visibility, fostering relationships and resources. The aim is to build an advocacy organization for 2SLGBTQIA+ music professionals in Canada akin to ADVANCE for Black professionals or The Indigenous Music Office for Indigenous music.
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The company is founded by queer and trans musicians, including executive director and board president Bronwin Parks, a non-binary music executive and designer. They have worked within the music industry as the founder and creative director of the design studio Feisty Creative for almost 20 years, currently also serving on the board of directors for the Unison Fund. Parks has also previously worked with Universal Music Canada as their senior graphic designer in the early 2010s.
“While the Canadian music sector has developed important support structures for several underrepresented communities through organizations such as Women in Music Canada, the Indigenous Music Office, and ADVANCE Music Canada, there remains no national organization dedicated specifically to the advancement and advocacy of 2SLGBTQIA+ music professionals,” says Parks.
"Queer and trans artists and industry workers continue to face systemic barriers to access, visibility, mentorship and career advancement," Parks explains. "My founding Board members and I could no longer stand by and watch our rainbow family struggle to find support for some of the unique challenges that our community faces. From those seeds of frustration with the status quo, OutStanding Music was grown."
Parks calls the company first-of-its-kind, highlighting a longstanding gap that has existed when it comes to a national organization dedicated specifically to helping 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals within the Canadian music industry. The company is collaborating with other organizations like the the Indigenous Music Office, Women in Music Canada charity (not affiliated with Billboard Women In Music) and the International Indigenous Music Summit.
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The organizations are notably joining together OutStanding's inauguration at BreakOut West, which will combine industry, community and connection with in-person events featuring speakers, interactive conversations, performances by 2SLGBTQIA+ artists and more. On Oct. 1, OutStanding will host an interactive café event at the Victoria Convention Centre, followed by a dedicated launch event at The Vicious Poodle.
"As both a 2SLGBTQIA+ artist and someone who has spent more than 20 years working in the music industry, I’ve seen firsthand how important community, representation and connection are," says Natalie Vivian, OutStanding Music's operations manager and board vice president. "OutStanding Music was created to help build a dedicated space where 2SLGBTQIA+ artists and music industry professionals across Canada can connect, be supported and have their voices heard. Our launch is just the beginning of building a stronger, more visible and connected community within the Canadian music industry."
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OutStanding will spotlight the existing queer voices across Canada's vast musical landscape while also helping them unlock new connections and opportunities that will serve them long-term.
"We’re building this together," says Parks. "There is so much talent, knowledge and creativity in our community. We want to make sure people have the connections and support they need to find each other, lift each other up and move forward together."
