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What is Changing Gear?

Changing Gear is YSWN’s new programme offering emerging music creators based in Yorkshire and the Humber commissions, equipment and support to develop and perform exciting new works.

In the first year, three women and minority gender creators working across a range of genres will be selected to compose and perform new music inspired by electronic music pioneer Daphne Oram, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of her birth in 2025.

What support is offered?

If selected, you will receive a fee of £1,400 for your participation in the programme – including time developing, composing and performing your piece, as well as receiving mentoring. Accommodation and travel costs may also be covered where needed for two performance dates.

What is involved?

If you are selected, you will be commissioned to create a new piece of electronic (or primarily electronic but featuring vocals and/or other instruments) music that takes inspiration from the life, work and legacy of Daphne Oram. This might involve exploring the sonic technology that she used and developed, her achievements with the BBC Radiophonic workshop and as a solo composer, her ideas around how humans interact with sound – or any other angle that sparks your creativity.

We have partnered with the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford and each creator will be invited to discover items in the collections relating to sound technology which could be used as a source of inspiration (although as they are museum objects you won’t be able to actually play them). We will also offer an opportunity to access and experiment with vintage sound equipment – for example analogue synthesisers, tape machines and effects units – and are excited to see how kit from decades past might interact with your present-day artistic voice.

We picture the new work being around 10-20 minutes in length (or in total, if made up of shorter parts or songs). You will perform the new work twice in spring 2025: first at an event at the National Science and Media Museum after it has opened following refurbishment and coinciding with the Bradford City of Culture 2025 programme, and then at an event in the Calder Valley which will coincide with a tour date for the Oram Awards’ own celebrations of Daphne Oram’s centenary.

Amplify is a talent development programme for early to mid-career musicians and people working in the music sector in the Bradford district.

Through Amplify, successful applicants will receive:

Through this programme, Amplify aim to:

This programme is generously supported by the PRS Foundation and PPL Talent Development Network.

Jazz North’s latest support scheme welcomes applications from grassroots and independent promoters working in jazz. The bursaries will support fees and costs for northern emerging artists and support acts.

New Northern is Jazz North’s promoter bursary to support live emerging talent. It supports promoters to programme emerging northern artists by underwriting risk and helping pay essential costs.

Designed both to support emerging artists in the north and give an injection of cash to promoters who need it, this easy-access scheme offers a quick intervention to northern grassroots promoters facing difficult financial circumstances.

Ni Maxine, on behalf of Wombat Jazz Club:

“As an early-career promoter with artist experience at the heart, producing grassroots events, receiving this support not only gave us the confidence that we were doing something right, but also opened us up to new audiences and a network of similar promoters, which has been really insightful.“ 

New Northern is open for applications until midday on Monday 2nd September. 

Interested applicants can sign up to an ‘Applying to New Northern’ workshop on Tuesday 6th August, 4.30-5.30PM or receive the video recording. 

The International Showcase Fund (ISF) offers grants of up to £5,500 for international export opportunities for UK-based artists, bands, songwriters and producers who have been invited to perform or create new music at international industry facing showcasing festivals, song writing camps or conferences.

Previous recipients include Dave, Nova Twins, Kae Tempest, Glass Animals, Little Simz, Nova Twins, Sam Fender, AJ Tracey, and Wolf Alice.

In order to be eligible for support music creators must have been formally invited to perform or participate in an international event, with a conference element, that is geared towards music industry professionals, rather than the general public or an international songwriting camp which is geared towards international collaboration and creative and career progression.

The AmplifyWorld Artist Fund is a new initiative providing financial grants to artists ready to take their careers to the next level. More than funding, this is an investment in the future of music. An investment in nurturing talent and a step towards building a more diverse music industry.

Launching in 2024, the inaugural fund will be $500,000. With individual grants awarded from $1,000 to $50,000 for selected artists.

The AmplifyWorld Artist Fund offers grants to exceptional artists, enabling them to invest in their careers. From recording and production to marketing and touring.

Why apply?

It’s not all about the funds; it’s about giving you the freedom to focus on what you do best – creating unforgettable music and showcasing your talent to the world.

Financial support

Receive a grant that can cover various aspects of your music career.

Career growth

Leverage this opportunity to take significant steps forward in your career, whether it’s releasing an album, going on tour, or expanding your creative horizons.

Exposure

Gain visibility within the AmplifyWorld community and beyond. Connecting with fans and music professionals to grow your audience.

What do they expect from artists in return?

All that they ask is that you are open-minded, technologically forward thinking, and willing to use AmplifyWorld’s tools to grow your fanbase and community.

If you’re a musician with a strong track record but lacking the resources to embark on larger and longer-term projects, then the Next Level award might help.

With a programme of one-to-one business advice and peer support, alongside financial support to help you pursue your opportunity, the Next Level award is designed to help take your career to the next level.

Who is this for? 

This support is for musicians who create, perform or release their own music but lack the resources to take on ambitious projects.

If you need support to help record and release your next album, take your music on tour, or join a long-term course, Help Musicians can help make that happen, all whilst providing you with business skills and networks to help you grow your career.

Full eligibility criteria and details of what their panel are looking for can be found in the application guidance.

What does the Award include? 

When can I apply?

You can apply for Next Level support within the following windows:

The Music Revenue Fund is a scheme to help music businesses in Wales to improve their commercial outlook and sustainability.

Up to £40,000 is available to applicants that will benefit from the support due to financial constraints.

As part of their wider programme of support for the music industry, the focus of this round is to help music businesses with:

Its ultimate aim is to contribute to the growth and development of our diverse music industry in Wales.

Apply here: https://www.creative.wales/funding-and-support/music-revenue-fund

Put forward your ideas for innovative new work to be showcased in October 2024.

Brighter Sound are commissioning innovative new work that examines or challenges the future of the music industry and global music cultures.

Open to artists, collectives, promoters or labels, if selected you’ll be given a £5,000 budget to bring your idea to life.

Part of WE, THE LEADERS, the legacy programme for WOMEX 24, they want to support work that is bold, future-facing, collaborative and cross-discipline.

Your ideas could explore:

Your commission should have a public facing output, be that a live event, online or something for print, to be showcased in October 2024.

Applications for EFDSS’ next round of Alan James Creative Bursaries are now open.

The EFDSS Creative Bursary and Residency Programme, now in its twelfth year, aims to support artists in exploring new creative ideas inspired by and sourced from traditional folk music relating to England. This programme provides artists with an opportunity to undertake creative exploration without the pressure of a final product.

It will be awarding four bursaries. This year EFDSS are delighted to be partnering with Black Lives in MusicDrake Music, and the Glasshouse International Centre for Music (Gateshead) to offer at least one bursary to each of:

The award offers

Resonate is a fund and resource which encourages professional orchestras to programme into their repertoire the best pieces of British music from the past 25 years.

Resonate aims to inspire more performances, recordings and broadcasts of outstanding contemporary repertoire, as chosen by UK orchestras, whilst strengthening approaches to programming this music for the benefit of audiences, composers and players in the UK and overseas.

The PRS Foundation will offer financial support with grants of up to 10K to orchestras who commit to exploring contemporary UK repertoire as part of a season/tour and longer term audience development programme.

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