Drake Music: Talent Development Partner 2023
Developing accessible and sustainable career pathways for Disabled musicians
DM Collective is an artist development programme that aims to change the landscape for Disabled musicians, making a career as a musician more accessible and sustainable. The programme is dedicated to breaking down disabling barriers in the music industry by providing tailored support and opportunities for professional development.
In 2023 we will be working closely with Disabled musicians to:
– Understand the barriers to developing a sustainable creative career faced by Disabled musicians.- Provide mentorship opportunities for Disabled musicians at the start of their creative careers.
– Create structures to provide ongoing support to Disabled musicians in developing and progressing their creative careers.The core of the project will be led by two Resident Artists who will take up 7 month placements starting in summer 2023. They will each receive a £2,000 commission to develop new musical work and will also inform and support development of Drake Music’s wider work.
Three early-career artists will also each receive a bursary of £1,000 to invest in their practice, as well as training, development and showcase opportunities. We use the term ‘early career’ in an inclusive way, relating it to experience, not age.This could include musicians who are:
– changing direction, or trying something new;
– someone who has made music for some time, but who has never applied for a professional commission;
– or a musician whose previous musical practice is now inaccessible to them, so they are developing a new approach or playing a different instrument.