Taking a pause and celebrating achievements so far…
As we take a pause this summer to evaluate our first 3-year funding period, supported by Arts Council England’s Ambition for Excellence scheme, we’re taking this opportunity to celebrate all that has been achieved so far.
Turner Sims Southampton launched Jazz South in Spring 2018, and since then the programme has reached out to and engaged with many organisations and individuals involved in jazz and improvised music both across the region and beyond. Among the key outcomes have been 20 artists commissioned and over £91,000 invested in new music and talent development through Platform South, Radar, Breakthrough & Spotlight Commissioning schemes. In our broader programme some 290 artists and promoters have been supported with sector development sessions.
We’re hugely grateful to the partners who have worked with us to make the programme what it is, and to principal funders Arts Council England and the University of Southampton for their support.
Whilst the pandemic has had a serious impact on the activities of so many in the sector Jazz South’s reshaped programme over the last year has been able to nurture and support some exciting new collaborations and ways of working and we look forward to announcing our next steps on the website soon. For the moment do explore the commissions that have been created, learn more about some of the region’s artists through podcasts, and playlist features, and read the ‘catching up with’ interviews. They represent a snapshot of the incredible creative energy that is apparent in the jazz and improvised music scene across the south of England.
Kevin Appleby
Strategic Lead, Jazz South