Reykjavik Air Bridge
2006.06.28
Icelandic musicians have, it seems, some advantage over musicians from other countries. The city of Reykjavik and Icelandair have for some years now run a fund named Reykjavik Loftbrú, intended to help musicians go abroad to play their music live. Perhaps it’s not so much an advantage as a compensation for being stuck in the middle of the ocean, with no means of going anywhere without expensive flights. In any case this has helped many bands and artists in the past years to broaden their horizons and showcase their music abroad.
How it works is basically like this; a band or artists fills out an application detailing where they want to go, why, how it will be exectuted, what they hope to gain in the process, and in what way it will be beneficial for icelandic culture in general. Every month a commitee gathers to go over the applications, and those deemed most worthy basically get a plane ticket for each member of the band, and whomever can within reason be said to be a necessary part of the band, f.e. roadie or manager. Everything else the bands need to take care of themselves, accommodation, rental car, booking gigs etcetera.
Needless to say many bands apply, and you may expect ever increasing amounts of virtually unknown icelandic bands popping up in your hometown while this fund is up and running. It takes a lot for a band here to get to the money-making step, and touring around is expensive and more likely to break a band up due to financial difficulties than to take them to the next level. This has in the past happened to a lot of good bands who disbanded after touring, and coming home up to their necks in debts. Reykjavik Air Bridge is a great leap forward, and a recognition of the fact that music is indeed good for the tourist industry. I’m guessing nothing has advertised Iceland as much as Björk, and now bands like Sigurrós, Múm, Singapore Sling and Trabant have become ever more prominent in the international press, not least due to this fund.
An article with more details on the Air Bridge is available online at the Reykjavik Grapevine website.
I’d like to know if there is any such funding to be had in other countries, from what I’ve heard so far this seems to be pretty unique. And if it’s not available, I encourage musicians to confront their city councils or governments, and make the Reykjavik Air Bridge an example for them to follow. Let’s get the music out of the garages and bedrooms, and into the world.
