Synthfarm 2020 Scholarships for Women: Everything You Need to Know



We cannot overstate the electronic music scene gender imbalance and nowhere is it more evident than in music synthesis and synthmaking. In spite of synth history being rife with women contributors and innovaters, modern day scenario remains devoid of female / queer/ non-binary participants. While internationally, artists such as Suzanne Ciani, Laurel Halo, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Catarina Barbieri have been making waves for some time now, in India a distinct dearth of female sound artists and synth musicians persists, with outliers such as Ose.

Synthfarm has been hip to the cause since 2015, pushing awareness of modular synthesis in the country and recently among women through a yearly residency in West Bengal. In 2018, Synthfarm announced the Empowerment of Female Talent program, which invited two female participants to apply for a full scholarship to Synthfarm 2019. Word got around and , consequently, Synthfarm saw a 65% increase in the number of female participants last year. The scholarship applications are now open for Synthfarm 2020 on February 7-9, and here is everything you need to know in order to apply:

There are two fully comped scholarship spots open. To apply:

Applicants must be 18 or older.
Scholarship application is open to trans/cis women and non-binary participants.
Previous scholarship candidates may not re-applyfor scholarship, but are welcome to apply as regular participants.
An application letter detailing why they would like to apply and how they qualify for the scholarship.
Final application must be submitted by December 31, 2019

What does the scholarship include?

National return flights. International flights not covered.
Accommodation for the duration of Synthfarm, including three meals a day.
Airport transfers to and from the residency.
Synthfarm fee
Complete Synthfarm 2020 courseware

If you or someone you know who meets the criteria would like to apply, you can do so by registering here. Please indicate in your responses that you would like to apply for the Empowerment of Female Talent scholarship. Selected candidates will be notified via email in the first week of January.

In its small but by no means insignificant way, Synthfarm is attempting to alleviate gender bias in music in India. The scholarships are currently funded by its curators Samrat B and Varun Desai. If you are an institution looking to help Synthfarm amplify the number of women and non-binary participants further by offering more scholarships, you can view their manifesto and other pertinent details here.

Written by Uvika Wahi