MUTEK Incubator: A Tailored Path for Artistic Growth

Launched in 2024 during the 25th edition of the MUTEK Festival, the MUTEK Incubator is a professional development program for emerging Canadian artists in digital and sound arts. Designed as a comprehensive and collaborative journey, the program fosters professionalization by bridging creation, training, and presentation within the MUTEK ecosystem.

Each year, about ten artists from across Canada take part in a four-month path—from June to December—combining specialized workshops, one-on-one mentorship, and full immersion in the professional context of the festival.

A Structured and Collaborative Program

• Tailored workshops designed to enhance both technical and professional skills;
• A one-on-one mentorship with an established artist in the MUTEK Network;
• The production of a professional electronic press kit (EPK) including a bilingual biography and photos;
• Access to additional professional activities and networking opportunities, plus the personalized expertise of the MUTEK team;
• Full access to the MUTEK Festival and Forum, as well as transportation and accommodation for artists residing outside Montréal;
• Centralized communication channels to stay connected with the MUTEK Network.

2025 Cohort

• Alan Harman ^CA/QC
• con secuencias ^MX/QC
• Cori ^CA/QC
• El Ángel Exterminador ^MX/CA
• Fongkikid ^KR/CA
• Monsieurmadam ^MA/QC
• NGL Flounce ^FR+MG/QC
• OmniDirectional Groove ^CA/QC
• 16:9 ratio ^CA

Mentorship and Community

Mentorship stands at the core of the program. Mentors—experienced artists and professionals from the MUTEK network—offer personalized sessions fostering intergenerational dialogue, knowledge exchange, and long-term connections across Canada’s digital arts community.

2025 Mentors

• Bana Haffar ^LB+SY/QC — electronic music composer; paired with OmniDirectional Groove
• BunBun ^CA/QC — multimedia artist and VJ; paired with Fongkikid
• Jesse Osborne Lanthier ^CA/QC — musician, part of the duo Orchestroll and MUTEK Market 2024; paired with Alan Harman
• Liliane Chlela ^LB/QC — musician, MUTEK Market 2024; paired with NGL Flounce
• Mathieu Arsenault ^CA/QC — musician and visual artist, also known as Seulement, MUTEK Market 2024; paired with 16:9 ratio
• Milo Reinhardt ^CA/QC — multidisciplinary artist and co-director of the non-profit World Creation Studio; paired with El Ángel Exterminador
• Ouri ^FR/QC — musician and MUTEK 2020 cohort; paired with Monsieurmadam
• Pía Baltazar ^CA/QC — intermedia composer, interdisciplinary researcher, and Director of Arts-Science Development at SAT; paired with Cori
• Sinjin Hawke ^CA/QC — artist and producer, co-founder of the label Fractal Fantasy; paired with con secuencias

Workshops and Specialized Training

Participants take part in more than 40 hours of online and in-person sessions covering both creative and professional aspects.

2nd Edition Incubator Workshops

• Audiovisualities: A/V Live Performance — Nelly-Eve Rajotte
• Introduction to Live Performance: All the Ins and Outs of Shifting to Live Performance — Liliane Chlela
• How to Navigate MUTEK 2025 — Marie-Laure Saidani & Simla Ayduran (MUTEK)
• From DIY to Professional Collaborators: Understanding and Building a Professional Artist Business and Team — Mira Silver (Feminae Nox)
• Unlocking Opportunities: Strategic Approaches to Negotiating Artistic Distribution — Abigaëlle Parisé
• How to Build a Strategic Album Campaign — Laurence Guilbault
• How to Make Your Tech Rider Clear and Efficient — Étienne Labelle-Sylvestre (SAT)
• Personal Finances for Artists — presented by Desjardins
• SOCAN 101 & 102: Copyright and Royalties for Emerging Artists — presented by SOCAN Canada
• Making Music Visible: An Introduction to Scenography — Adam Hummell & Shadi Shaydakiss Assadi

MUTEK Market Workshops (access for Incubator artists)

• Writing with Purpose: Artist Bios and Statements — Josée Pedneault (partnership with Artch)
• Anti-Oppression Strategies — Kama La Mackerel (partnership with Artch)
• Scholarship and Grant — Amber Berson (partnership with Artch)
• Sound Synthesis — in partnership with Station Clip
• Building Your Brand DNA in the Creative Industry — Grace Puluczek
• Digital Marketing — Fannie Crépin (House of Supercool)

In addition, artists have access to recordings and resources through the MUTEK Forum App, the online platform used as a learning and networking hub throughout the program. Special activities such as the Studio Mixer × Common Process (a networking collaboration with World Creation Studio) brought together artists from both organizations for in-person exchange and creative dialogue.

From Mentorship to the Stage

The MUTEK Incubator serves as a launchpad: several alumni from the first cohort performed at the 2025 Festival, illustrating the continuum from learning to presentation. The goal remains clear — to equip artists with lasting skills, embed them in solid professional networks, and offer opportunities to showcase their work on recognized stages.

A Supportive Ecosystem

Integrating workshops, mentorship, professional tools, and access to MUTEK’s events, the Incubator embodies a systemic approach to artistic development. In the long term, it seeks to strengthen the sustainability of Canada’s digital arts scene and foster new avenues for collaboration, dissemination, and international outreach.

This project is made possible with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts. MUTEK is deeply grateful for the support of its partners and mentors.

Written by Simla Ayduran
Editorial supervision by Gregh Chevron