About MIL

MIL is dedicated to the discovery, promotion, valorization, and internationalization of current popular music, as well as to a reflection on cultural policies and practices. The project encompasses music festivals, conventions, academies, artist residencies, training for international circulation, and a magazine, anticipating trends and fostering debate on issues that shape the future of the music and culture sectors.

MIL had its first edition in 2017, featuring over 50 showcases with around 1500 attendees. In the latest edition, MIL tripled the number of professionals involved and the total number of daily spectators compared to the first edition. Lisbon became the meeting point for 920 professionals from 18 countries, while 265 artists performed 78 showcases in 8 venues. A total of 3973 spectators participated in the three-day festival, and 69 debates, masterclasses, conferences, workshops, presentations, and meetings fostered MIL’s professional network.

MIL Overview

Festival

An artistic program featuring the protagonists of the new trends in current popular music, with a focus on the music production of Portuguese-speaking countries, targeting large audiences and national and international professionals. The festival program includes approximately 50 performances in some of the most iconic venues in Cais do Sodré: Musicbox, Roterdão, Estúdio Time Out, Lounge, Titanic Sur Mer, B.Leza, Lisa.

Convention

A program of training, debate, business, and sectoral meetings among cultural professionals, comprising about 50 activities.

Artistic Residency

An activity of artistic creation and collaboration that brings together national and international artists in the process of sharing original repertoire and their respective projects. The project culminates in a performance during the festival program.

MILímetro

A multidisciplinary program designed to bring the spirit of discovery and engagement in the arts to children, youth, and families in Lisbon, driven by music. Aimed at young people and their families, MILímetro combines musical shows, performances, workshops on MIL-related themes, and a cycle of debates organised by and for young people.

MIL Magazine

A bilingual publication that serves as a catalyst for specialized critical debate, valuing the production and access to knowledge as a space for reflection that introduces challenging approaches to the current state of music and culture.

MIL Academy

A decentralized project that combines an artistic residency and a training program on communication, business, and distribution for artists and professionals. The academies take place in two different regions – in 2023, they will be held in Leiria and São Miguel – and last for one week, during which three emerging artists will work on an artistic creation, and nine professionals will develop a business, communication, and distribution plan for that same artistic creation.

Internationalisation Empowerment

Online training for artists and their teams aimed at empowering participants for internationalization.

Festival’s Venues

 

Musicbox

R. Nova do Carvalho 24, 1200-019 Lisboa

Roterdão

R. Nova do Carvalho 28, 1200-292 Lisboa

Estúdio Time Out

Av. 24 de Julho 49, 1200-479 Lisboa, Piso 1

Lounge

R. Moeda 1, 1200-275 Lisboa

Titanic Sur Mer

Cais do Gás, R. da Cintura do Porto de Lisboa, 1200-109 Lisboa

B.Leza

Cais Gás 1, 1200-161 Lisboa

LISA

R. Gaivotas 5, 1200-178 Lisboa