Turner Sims presents:
Turn It Up
Locally made, nationally profiled
Turner Sims Southampton is launching Turn It Up, a development opportunity for local musicians. Turn up the volume on your project and prepare to perform at our summer festival.
Do you have a project idea you want to develop and present to new audiences?
Are you ready to develop your craft and boost your professional career?
We will help you develop your project and provide a national platform for you to perform it.
About Us
Turner Sims has big ambitions to build an inclusive world through the joy of live music. We’re developing from a respected concert hall into a dynamic and creative music hub. Nurturing new talent and connecting with diverse communities are central to our plans.
Turn It Up artists will join a wide range of musicians as part of our year-round programme of exceptional live music.
Turner Sims presents Turn It Up, in association with SoCo Music Project.
SoCo Music Project support wellbeing and progression through music. Alongside a vibrant engagement programme SoCo have set up a new Music Industry Office, providing direct support to artists at all levels.
The Opportunity
We will select two Turn It Up artists from this open call. Each will receive a Research and Development (R&D) and Production budget of up to £3,000 to create and deliver a project across five months. The R&D phase (February to June 2024) will culminate in a performance at Turner Sims’ Summer Festival on Friday 28 June 2024.
Each artist will receive a tailored package to support their development and performance. This includes:
• rehearsal space at Turner Sims and Planet Sounds
• recording support
• performance opportunities
• marketing and PR
• industry mentoring with access to knowledge and networks
Who is it for?
We are looking to support individual artists/musicians who:
• live or work in Southampton or an SO postcode
• have 5-10 years of professional experience
• work in jazz, sound, folk, global, classical and/or electronic music or any point in-between
• have an ambitious project they want to develop and present on a national platform
• are passionate about engaging diverse audience through music
• want to hone their craft and build their professional career
• want support in navigating the music industry
We are keen to receive applications from artists with a wide range of lived experiences to create events that are exciting and relevant for diverse audiences from different communities in Southampton. This includes individuals from the Global Majority and/or LGBTQIA+ communities, or those who are disabled, D/deaf, neurodiverse, experience mental illness or are care experienced.
Access support
We are committed to removing barriers that would prevent people from participating in this opportunity. For individuals who require access support, we will work with you to understand your needs and agree a package of support to enable you to fully benefit from the opportunity.
What will we support?
We are looking for projects that:
• demonstrate ambition and high quality
• develop your practice
• seek to engage diverse audiences in the joy of live music
How will Turn It Up work?
Selected artists will begin with a one-to-one consultation with us to clarify your project idea and R&D needs.
Together we will plan how best to spend the £3,000 budget. The funds will need to cover each artist’s own time and any costs to create their idea and proposal e.g. buying software, hiring equipment or other expertise to test a work in progress or go on site visits.
The consultation will also help you identify further support needs and decide what pathway will be most beneficial for you. This may include support with collaboration, industry advice, technical support, or rehearsal/studio time – most likely, a combination of all of these.
The Outcome
During the R&D period, you will have prepared a new show ready to be showcased at the Turner Sims Summer Festival on Friday 28 June 2024. You will be supported to promote the event and develop content for marketing before and after. This will support you to explore further opportunities for performance, touring, producing etc.
How to Apply
Complete the online form here or submit a video/audio application by email to arts@soton.ac.uk
To assist you in planning your application, download this guide for the questions and information we require you to provide via the online form, or as video/audio application.
Deadline to apply: 19 January 2024 at 5pm
We will contact all applicants with the award decision by 16 February 2024
Proposals will be considered against the following criteria:
• Artist eligibility (e.g. SO postcode and 5-10 years of professional experience)
• Artistic vision and musical quality
• Track record of artist for creating and delivering original material
• Diversity of artists
• Diversity of music and creative styles
• Diversity of intended audiences for the project
If you have any questions about this opportunity, access support or need this brief or further information in a different format, please email arts@soton.ac.uk
The Turner Sims team are on leave from 22 December 2023 to 2 January 2024.