NORTHERN JAZZ CLUBS TO TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF JAZZ ORGANISERS

(Press release)

The Northern Jazz Promoters Network has been awarded a grant of £44,837 from the National Lottery by Arts Council England and also supported by Jazz North to appoint four paid trainees to learn how to run world class jazz venues in the North of England.

The project will bring much needed new blood into the jazz scene and help build the sustainability of the largely volunteer run jazz promoter network.

The scheme which is funded by Arts Council England, will be delivered by Northern Jazz Promoters, the network of jazz clubs in the region, with support from Jazz North.

The project will see jazz club and festival organisers in the North of England hosting and mentoring a trainee for 12 months to give them a grounding in all aspects of jazz promotion including planning, programming, artist liaison, contract negotiations, marketing, audience development, front of house organisation and finance. There will also be a series of open workshops held for jazz promoters in the North delivered by industry professionals covering aspects like audience development, programming in unusual spaces, digital marketing, engaging younger audiences, making and streaming videos.

The four jazz promoters chosen to host the trainees are Jazz North East (Newcastle), Jazz Leeds, Wakefield Jazz and Ribble Valley Jazz and Blues. The year-long paid traineeships and the associated Project Manager post are open to anyone with an interest in jazz and the desire and potential to build their skills in promoting and developing audiences for the music.

“Jazz musicians need places to play” says Chair of Northern Jazz Promoters Steve Crocker, “and jazz audiences need places to listen to their favourite live music. These traineeships will give opportunities for people to learn all about the art of running and promoting jazz, and will help the jazz scene develop and flourish”

“Voluntary Jazz promoters are at the heart of the UK jazz scene, and so we are really pleased that Arts Council England have recognised the strength and variety of promoters in the north of England through this innovative programme” says Northern Jazz Promoters secretary Gill Wilde.

Executive Director, Jazz North, Lesley Jackson, says “This is really good news for jazz in the North of England and Jazz North is looking forward to working with Northern Jazz Promoters to nurture new talent and develop skills across the whole sector.” 

The Traineeships will be launched at a special event at 12.00 on Saturday 21 March at the Sage Gateshead during the Gateshead Jazz Festival

More details and information of how to apply can be found on www.northernjazzpromoters.org

06/03/2020