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Month-Month 2024 ROUTES TO THE FUTURE How Arts Council England are sparking new conversations that support venues, build new touring opportunities, and attract new audiences Carnival Collective at Brighton Festival 2024 Since 2019, Arts Council England’s investment to support grassroots music has been vital in helping grassroots music venues (GMVs) and promoters to present a wide range of music genres across England. And, starting in November 2023, the fund expanded to include festivals, and rehearsal and recording studios for the first time. It has also helped them to develop networks, build confidence in managing funded projects, and experiment with new artists, genres and audiences. This initiative, part of the Arts Council’s National Lottery Project Grants programme, highlights our acknowledgement of the challenges faced by grassroots music organisations and their critical role in talent development and audience engagement. Diverse artists attract diverse audiences In our 2023 evaluation of the Supporting Grassroots Live Music scheme, we found that 80% of GMV grant recipients were able to support more artists, with 63% programming a more diverse range of artists and 59% reporting a more diverse audience as a result . It was clear that diverse artists attract diverse audiences, but at the same time, we could also see that many grassroots music venues and promoters struggled to connect with the diversity of their local communities and to understand the musical interests of a broader range of potential audience members. With the 30th anniversary edition of WOMEX, the most international and culturally diverse gathering of the global music scene, coming to the UK and to Manchester, Arts Council England has an opportunity to bring people together to address this disconnection between venues, promoters and diverse communities. We want to spark new conversations and collaborations that will widen access and diversity in UK music programming. This book, Routes – and its extended online guide that brings in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland – provides a comprehensive list of venues and festivals that are programming diasporic and culturally diverse music. From English folk to global traditions, whether acoustic or electronic, and emerging from the contemporary scene, electronica, jazz and many other genres (and combinations of the same), it shows the rich diversity of music on offer across this country. We hope Routes will be part of a toolkit that raises awareness, encourages new conversations, and promotes the mobility of English and international artists. And if you are an international artist or manager wanting to tour England, Arts Infopoint UK (opposite) is the perfect companion to this directory. Changing how the sector operates requires collaboration and networking between venues, bookers and diverse artists – as well as with new partners in the community they hope to serve. By working together, the sector can better engage with diaspora communities and attract new audiences. Such transformation won’t happen overnight , but WOMEX 2024 in Manchester offers an ideal starting point . We hope this new resource will be invaluable in driving these changes. dam Jeanes, Senior Relationship Manager Music Claire Mera-Nelson, Director Music rts Council England 12 ROUTES ROUTES.SONGLINES.CO.UK
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Month-Month 2024 ll four nations of the UK are great places to come and gig and tour. Festivals and venues in this directory and the extended online directory ant to elcome you back. hether it’s lba/ Scotland, Cymru/ ales, England or Northern Ireland, there are many options for you to explore, in the cities and beyond. Arts Infopoint UK is part of the On the Move network (WOMEX Awardee for Professional Excellence in 2023) to support artists to travel beyond borders and to provide practical information. Come and find us on the Horizons stand at Womex (K6) if you’ve got any questions. Scan the QR code for more information and to follo us on social media. 5 KEY TIPS FOR PLANNING A UK VISIT AND TOUR 1 Don’t leave it until the last minute to start planning, and read up as much as possible on what’s required. 2 Check whether you need a visa to come to the UK and perform. The length of the tour/your time in the UK, your nationality and whether you will get paid all impact your options. We have developed a visa guide for more information. 3 Work closely with your UK partner and keep in touch. It’s likely they will need to provide you with information to help you come to the UK including supporting a visa application with a letter of invitation or support . Keep them up to date with your plans and share information with them about anything else you plan to do in the UK. 4 If you are bringing musical instruments, equipment or merchandise into the UK, check the UK’s custom rules to understand what you need to do to declare goods. You may be able to declare your goods before you reach the border. An ATA carnet might be needed. 5 If you are continuing your tour beyond the UK, Arts Infopoint UK is part of a growing network of Mobility Information Points with eight in Europe and one in the USA. We all develop and provide free and accurate information relating to cross-border administration for artists visiting those countries. ROUTES.SONGLINES.CO.UK ROUTES 13

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Month-Month 2024

ROUTES TO THE FUTURE How Arts Council England are sparking new conversations that support venues, build new touring opportunities, and attract new audiences

Carnival Collective at Brighton Festival 2024

Since 2019, Arts Council England’s investment to support grassroots music has been vital in helping grassroots music venues (GMVs) and promoters to present a wide range of music genres across England. And, starting in November 2023, the fund expanded to include festivals, and rehearsal and recording studios for the first time. It has also helped them to develop networks, build confidence in managing funded projects, and experiment with new artists, genres and audiences. This initiative, part of the Arts Council’s National Lottery Project Grants programme, highlights our acknowledgement of the challenges faced by grassroots music organisations and their critical role in talent development and audience engagement.

Diverse artists attract diverse audiences

In our 2023 evaluation of the Supporting Grassroots Live Music scheme, we found that 80% of GMV grant recipients were able to support more artists, with 63% programming a more diverse range of artists and 59% reporting a more diverse audience as a result . It was clear that diverse artists attract diverse audiences, but at the same time, we could also see that many grassroots music venues and promoters struggled to connect with the diversity of their local communities and to understand the musical interests of a broader range of potential audience members.

With the 30th anniversary edition of WOMEX, the most international and culturally diverse gathering of the global music scene, coming to the UK and to Manchester, Arts Council England has an opportunity to bring people together to address this disconnection between venues, promoters and diverse communities. We want to spark new conversations and collaborations that will widen access and diversity in UK music programming.

This book, Routes – and its extended online guide that brings in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland – provides a comprehensive list of venues and festivals that are programming diasporic and culturally diverse music. From English folk to global traditions, whether acoustic or electronic, and emerging from the contemporary scene, electronica, jazz and many other genres (and combinations of the same), it shows the rich diversity of music on offer across this country.

We hope Routes will be part of a toolkit that raises awareness, encourages new conversations, and promotes the mobility of English and international artists. And if you are an international artist or manager wanting to tour England, Arts Infopoint UK (opposite) is the perfect companion to this directory.

Changing how the sector operates requires collaboration and networking between venues, bookers and diverse artists – as well as with new partners in the community they hope to serve. By working together, the sector can better engage with diaspora communities and attract new audiences.

Such transformation won’t happen overnight , but WOMEX 2024 in Manchester offers an ideal starting point . We hope this new resource will be invaluable in driving these changes. dam Jeanes, Senior Relationship Manager Music Claire Mera-Nelson, Director Music rts Council England

12 ROUTES

ROUTES.SONGLINES.CO.UK

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