As part of the University of Southampton, Turner Sims Southampton has partnered with our sister venue, John Hansard Gallery, the Southampton UK City of Culture 2025 Trust and organisations from across Southampton to make an Inclusion Pledge. By committing to our pledges together, we are unified in our aim to make Southampton an actively Inclusive City.
Our Long-term vision is
A dynamic and creative music hub for supporting the ambitions of the University, contributing to the civic pride of Southampton.
Laverne Williams – the Mother 
Ivan Dellimore – the Father 
Shannon B – the Daughter 
Hayley McDonnel – the Waters 
The ensemble on stage at Turner Sims 
Pooja Angra – the Elements, harmonium
In 2021, Turner Sims broadcast the world premiere of Voyages of the Heart, a piece by renowned composer, producer, cellist and kora virtuoso Tunde Jegede, inspired by the stories of Southampton’s migrant communities. Commissioned by Turner Sims and its project partner Southampton City Council, the performance featured an extraordinary ensemble of diverse musicians and vocalists, including many based in the city of Southampton.
Our Inclusion Pledges are embedded in our Future Strategy & Transition Business Plan:
Investing in engagement on our doorstep
We will reach out and connect with communities ‘on our doorstep’, in the local area around Highfield Campus, to listen to and better understand their needs, working together to explore ways to co-create music opportunities across community settings and in the concert hall.
Better representing our communities
We will ensure that our Strategic Board includes representation from across Southampton, with a positive emphasis on recruitment of members from underrepresented groups and communities.
Broadening the work we do
We will ensure that the work we do, whether in the concert hall or elsewhere, whether performance or participation, meets the needs of our audiences. It will be reflective and representative of the diverse communities within Southampton, across the UK and globally. We are making space to welcome new voices and diverse perspectives to shape, plan and contribute to our activities, such as our Future Producers programme and new Guest Curator series, launching in 2023.
Celebrating local talent
We will support and showcase local talent with the launch of a new open application programme – the Local Associates Platform – for two local musicians annually to create, develop, and present their own work. The musicians selected for the programme, which will launch in 2023, will be offered use of Turner Sims to workshop and create their work, plus a package of support including marketing/PR and mentoring.
Maz O’Connor and John Parker 
Maz O’Connor, John Parker and Will gardner 
Future Producers Lauren Jolliffe, Lorna Beckett and Nissa Pandya
Coordinated by Turner Sims with the University of Southampton Department of Music, our Future Producers programme offered a unique opportunity for students to produce and present professional music activities at the concert hall. Students from the University of Southampton Music Department were offered the chance to apply, and the successful participants enjoyed support, mentoring and guidance from industry professionals as they acquired hands-on experience in all aspects of music promotion.
John Hansard Gallery, part of The University of Southampton, together with Southampton UK City of Culture Trust, has co-led on Southampton’s city-wide Inclusion Pledge workshop programme. At the University of Southampton, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is central to our strategy.
Watch our President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark E. Smith speak about the University’s Inclusion Pledge.