Musiciennes à Besançon

Musiciennes à Besançon: A Launchpad for Female Creation

Launched in 2022, Musiciennes à Besançon (MAB) is a unique initiative in France, organized by La Rodia, a key contemporary music venue and cultural center in Besançon. This event aims to promote the place of women and gender minorities in contemporary music, a sector still marked by significant inequalities.

A Residency and Promotion Program

Each year, a call for applications selects three laureates — artists, singer-songwriters, musicians, or producers — who benefit from a week of immersive residency at La Rodia. During this period, they have access to rehearsal studios, technical and artistic support, and dedicated creative time.

A Week of Meetings and Concerts

The Musiciennes à Besançon week is marked by events open to the public: conferences on the role of women in music, professional meetings, and concerts in bars and nightlife venues in the city center. The event takes over iconic venues like L'Éphéméride, creating connections between the Besançon music scene and the invited artists.

The Closing Evening at La Rodia

The highlight of the week is the closing evening at La Rodia, which brings together the year's laureates and established artists from the French music scene. In 2025, this evening featured Juniore and Ojos, celebrating the richness and diversity of projects led by women.

A Strong Commitment to Equality in Music

Musiciennes à Besançon is part of La Rodia's overall commitment to gender equality in live performance. The initiative helps to make visible artists who are often underrepresented in festival and concert hall programming, while also raising awareness among the public and industry professionals.

With over 70 evenings programmed per year and 38,000 spectators welcomed, La Rodia makes Musiciennes à Besançon one of its two annual highlights, alongside the Détonation festival.