MESS Professional Development 2026

A 13-week course delivered by established artists and industry professionals, designed to embolden artists to take the next big steps in their creative lives.

The MESS Professional Development (PD) course is a wide-ranging program designed for electronic sound and music artists looking to move their practice forward. Each week, experienced people share their practical skills and knowledge to provide the inspiration and confidence that comes with understanding.

From listening skills to applying for grants, using MIDI to royalty collection, playing synths to booking shows – each week, an eclectic mix of topics will consolidate existing knowledge and skills while providing new avenues for growth and expansion.

Along with each week’s class are time and resources to create new work. Participation in the course also provides access to the extraordinary MESS collection, with an additional 4-hour weekly, self-directed studio session. Each participant is expected to present a new piece at the conclusion of the course, along with an opportunity to present their work in progress to their peers in the cohort.

Consisting of 12 weekly classes and a 13th week dedicated to showcasing participants’ work, the MESS Professional Development Program aims to develop both the artist and their artwork.

Who is it for?

Participants should have an established (emerging to mid-career) practice and a working knowledge of creating and producing electronic sound and music. This course is unsuitable for beginners.

This course is open to participants aged 18+.

Participants will need tools of their own to be able to work on course material outside of workshop times as well as for working in the MESS Studio.

If you are unsure if your equipment will suit this course, please contact school@mess.foundation

Application Process

Course attendance is by application only. We will accept applications until 6:00 pm, Monday, 23rd March, 2026. All applicants will be contacted with their application results in the weeks following.

Please note: Due to the number of applications we anticipate, we cannot offer feedback on unsuccessful applications.

Places in the course are secured by application only. This course is offered free of charge to successful applicants.

Apply

Class Schedule and Delivery Mode

Structure & Delivery:
Classes run weekly and begin May 11 2026, concluding August 10. Each class runs from 6.00 pm to approximately 9.00 pm. Weeks 1, 2, and 3 will run from 6.00pm to 10.00pm to include a studio induction in the MESS Studio.
Please note that there is no class on Monday 8 June due to the Public Holiday.

Studio sessions:
The course also includes 12 weeks of access to the MESS Studio. Participants can book 1 x 4-hour individual self-directed studio session per week during the course (12 sessions across the course period) with full access to the MESS Collection. Utilising this access is strongly encouraged to help facilitate a greater depth of understanding as well as support the completion of the course outcomes.

Class dates:
Week 1: Monday, May 11, 2026 (6pm – 9pm) –Electronic Sound Fundamentals : consolidating and outlining your knowledge about electronic sound creation.
Week 2: Monday, May 18, 2026 (6pm – 9pm) – Analog Synthesis Automation: how to use computers to control and manipulate analogue machines.
Week 3: Monday, May 25, 2026 (6pm – 10pm) – Eurorack Modular Synthesis: a survey of the tools and techniques used in contemporary synthesis & sound design.
Week 4: Monday, Jun 1, 2026 (6pm – 9pm) – Forms & Structures: an overview of the methods used in musical composition to organise and arrange sonic material.
Monday, Jun 8, 2026 – Public Holiday – No Class.
Week 5: Monday, Jun 15, 2026 (6pm – 9pm) – Generating passive income: licensing and royalties.
Week 6: Monday, Jun 22, 2026 (6pm – 9pm) – Presentation seminar of participant’s work in progress.
Week 7: Monday, Jun 29, 2026 (6pm – 9pm) – Creating opportunities: Fundraising and grant application for electronic sound & music artists.
Week 8: Monday, Jul 6, 2026 (6pm – 9pm) – Immersion: Creating work for multichannel diffusion and installation contexts.
Week 9: Monday, Jul 13, 2026 (6pm – 9pm) – Electronic sound and music events: inside the curatorial process of how festivals are programmed.
Week 10: Monday, Jul 20, 2026 (6pm – 9pm) – Performing with Electronics : Methods for Creating and Delivering Live Electronic Music & Sound.
Week 11: Monday, Jul 27, 2026 (6pm – 9pm) – Working with Vision: Music and Sound creation for Screens.
Week 12: Monday, Aug 3, 2026 (6pm – 9pm) – Finalling: polishing and finishing your work.
Week 13: Monday, Aug 10, 2026 (6pm – 9pm) – Final presentation of participant’s work.

The course will utilise Google Classroom to share notes and resources where available and communicate with the class. We are unable to record classes or host classes online.

Course Dates

May 11 – August 8, 2026
Mondays 6:00 pm

Course Overview

Learn more about the course, prerequisites, requirements and class schedule.

Course Overview (PDF)

Applications

Applications close at 6:00 pm, Monday, 23rd March 2026. This course is by application only.

Please note: due to the number of applications we anticipate, we cannot offer feedback on unsuccessful applications.

Apply now

“The care and attention that went into creating the course was apparent from the very start. I've become more grounded in my own practice and also accepting of the changes it'll go through over time. It was a great experience to be welcomed along with a diverse group of artists to MESS. The PD course created a unique environment for learning, experimenting and connecting.”
ZoltanProfessional Development Student, 2022

“MESS is an amazing, warm and engaging environment for anyone who is passionate about sound and synths. I loved every minute of the professional development course and gained so much confidence as a producer and artist. It has been awesome to work on so many iconic instruments and be able to experiment with unusual ones outside my comfort.”
CamillaProfessional Development Student, 2022