the blog

Unity Theatre – HackStage Ideas Lab

Imagine the scene – 25 or so of the UK’s most curious and forward thinking theatre makers, creative technologists and technicians, gathered together at Unity Theatre, Liverpool for 3 days of plotting and conspiring, eating and drinking, thinking and doing. All in the name of exploring the next frontiers of live theatre, and how digital […]Read More

London Sinfonietta – Make Do & Bend

In 2016 the hub teamed up with the London Sinfonietta and NESTA to develop Make, Do and Bend, a project bringing together musicians, composers and creative technologists to explore how digital technology can open up new forms of interaction.   The first part of Make, Do and Bend was an invite-only affair – an intensive 12 hours of sharing, making […]Read More

HELP MUSICIANS UK Where are they now? Post graduate music student research

Each year Help Musicians UK makes a substantial number of awards to post graduate music students around the UK. In 2016 HMUK commissioned the hub to carry out research into the career development of post graduate music students who have graduated in the past decade. Our study focused on some 1800 applicants to HMUK’s post […]Read More

Sound City Liverpool Korea international showcase

We’re currently part way through a 3 year role as evaluator and critical friend to the Sound City Korea showcase project. In September 2015 Sound City Liverpool was awarded a grant through Arts Council England and the British Council’s Artist International Showcasing Fund to develop a three year programme of activity targeting the increasingly important […]Read More

Arts Council – Reviewing music provision for children and young people in London

In 2008 Arts Council England (London) and Youth Music asked the hub to conduct a review of the music opportunities offered to children and young people in London by ACE’s Regularly Funded Organisations (RFOs), in order to understand the scope and scale of provision, evaluate the quality of experience for the young people taking part, […]Read More

Centre for Young Musicians – Progression routes in London for young jazz, world music and folk musicians

Using funding from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, The Centre for Young Musicians (CYM) asked the hub in 2008 to undertake a research project into progression routes for highly talented young people learning jazz, world and folk music in inner London. Our brief was twofold: to examine the routes already in place and […]Read More

The Great Escape Evaluation and Economic Impact Assessment

As part of its 10th anniversary, The Great Escape, Europe’s largest new music festival, asked the hub to carry out an impact study that would help inform the event’s artist development and programming strategy in the future. Our brief was twofold; firstly to review the impact of the festival in relation to artist development, professional […]Read More

British Council: Going International research

In early 2016 the British Council music team decided to commission new research into the funding and development opportunities for British musicians and music organisations to export and develop international markets for their work, and to develop their artistic practice through international experience. The intention was for this research to build on the similar work […]Read More

Make, Do & Bend – the title of our Ideas Lab, yes, but also a good philosophy

Imagine the scene – 25 or so of Europe’s most curious and forward thinking composers, musicians and creative technologists, gathered together at NESTA HQ for a ‘nothing’s impossible’ day of plotting and conspiring, eating and drinking, thinking and doing. All in the name of exploring the next frontiers of live performance, and how digital technology […]Read More

‘Fresh ideas… knowledge, greater understanding, confidence and new people’ – what musicians will get from The One Dayer

the hub’s One Dayer – Independent Music, Money & Tech takes place in Camden on 1 July. In her latest blog, the hub’s Director, Julia Payne, talks about why the event is a ‘must go to’ event for musicians, songwriters and composers working in beyond mainstream music – and what they can expect to get […]Read More