Brighter Sound: TDN 2026

Short Project Title: Brighter Sound: New Voices, New Work, Next Steps (year 3)

Bio: Brighter Sound is Manchester’s leading creative music charity. We nurture the next generation of artists and leaders, with a focus on those from underrepresented and marginalised communities. Our mission is to enable creative and career development, address systemic inequalities, and contribute to a thriving and sustainable music ecosystem. Our work is guided by our values: Creative, Collaborative, Equitable, Supportive and Responsive.

Programme Description: Year 3 of our multi-strand programme supports Manchester’s next generation. We provide accessible entry points for underrepresented talent, fund creative risk-taking through artist residencies and commissions, and deliver career-focused mentoring. This holistic approach is designed to support a sustainable approach to progression. Year 3 directly continues the successful model established in Years 1 & 2, deepening our commitment to PRS Foundation’s priorities. Building on strong outcomes, we will sustain our three core strands: New Voices(outreach/taster sessions), New Work (paid creative residencies/commissions), and Next Steps (career mentoring and incubator programmes). This continuation allows us to strengthen our talent pipeline, foster a cohesive artist community, and enhance our longitudinal impact tracking. Funds will again be strategically allocated to artist fees, creative project costs, access support and bursaries, ensuring financial barriers do not limit participation. Year 3 represents a consolidation phase, where we refine delivery based on participant feedback to maximise effectiveness and embed our equitable development practices into a cyclical programme of work.