SEM Academy | build your career

Graduated - or nearly - from the conservatoire and looking for practical career guidance? Do you want to discover how to make your artistic plans concrete, artistically and financially?

Over three months, and with guidance from experienced coaches and teachers, you will develop a personal artistic business plan that gives clear direction to your career. The academy concludes with a live final presentation at which you pitch your artistic business plan on a joint pitch day on 30 March 2026.

SEM Academy combines in‑person meetings at inspiring locations with online sessions you can attend live or watch back later. You will develop your vision, build your network, and learn how to make your artistic plans practically and financially viable.

The programme consists of:

• 3 on‑site days with space for meeting, inspiration, and collaboration
• 2 individual coaching sessions
• 5 online half‑days: interactive sessions and peer exchange (live and on‑demand)
• 2 small‑group peer sessions for in‑depth exchange
• A final presentation

Maximum number of participants: 40. Admission is, in principle, first‑come, first‑served.

At SEM Academy you work on the building blocks of a sustainable professional practice as a musician. You will receive practical tools and personal guidance to strengthen your artistic vision and translate it into a feasible strategy. Topics include:

• your artistic identity and value proposition
• personal branding and client relationships
• revenue models, financial planning, and fundraising
• presenting, negotiating, and networking
• marketing and audience engagement
• administration, taxes, pensions, and disability insurance
• Fair Pay and Fair Practice

You bring everything together in a personal plan that you can put into practice right away.

SEM Academy 2026 is for graduated musicians (up to about 35 years old) who are taking their first steps in the professional field and are looking for direction, strategy, and a strengthening of their artistic and entrepreneurial ideas. If capacity allows, there is also room for motivated master’s students who graduate in the summer of 2026. If you want to sharpen your entrepreneurship, expand your network, and give your career a boost, this programme is for you!

Participation is also open to international musicians; when needed workshops will be in English.

The academy concludes with a live final presentation at which you pitch your artistic business plan. You present the essence of your vision and plans to an audience of fellow participants, teachers, and other interested parties. This moment offers not only feedback, but also visibility and new opportunities.

The expected time investment is on average 8 hours per week, divided among in‑person or online sessions, assignments, preparation, peer sessions, and individual coaching.

SEM Academy runs on Mondays from 19 January through 30 March 2026 (no sessions on 23 February and 23 March). There are three mandatory in‑person days from 09:30–17:30 on 19 January, 9 February, and 9 March at Akoesticum (next to Ede‑Wageningen station). In addition, there are several online workshops of 2-3 hours each, which you can also watch back later. Peer sessions and individual coaching are scheduled in consultation during February and March. We conclude with a joint pitch day on 30 March 2026, where you present your business plan.

Thanks to contributions from the Bunschoten Fonds, Stichting Eigen Muziekinstrument, The Netherlands Musical Instrument Foundation and an anonymous donor, the participation fee remains low. The fee for SEM Academy 2026 is € 350 per participant.

As a recognised professional development programme, you may be eligible for Werktuig PPO funding, which typically reimburses one third of the costs. See the PPO website for the current conditions or contact SEM for advice.

Do you have questions and want to get in touch directly? Email info@stichtingeigenmuziekinstrument.nl.

More information about the 2027 edition will become available in the fall of 2026.