Jazz North East: The Open Fund for Organisations

With PRSF and Arts Council support the past two years of activity have received an incredibly positive response from musicians, audiences and venues. As a result of this successful initiative the number of female musicians approaching the organization has increased with a quarter of all Jazz North East concerts now being directed by a female lead.

The Women Make Music series provides a platform in which women become role models through mentoring alongside performance, highlighting the creative role of women as composers, performers and instructors. A core element of the series is focused on the presentation of new work, frequently with new combinations of musicians and multiple bills stimulating interaction between artists from a wide musical and geographical spectrum. Jazz North East supports musicians with whom it has previously worked continuing to build on established relationships, whilst engaging artists who have not previously performed with the organization before, as well as helping the further development of local talent.

Some previous highlights have included Zoe Rahman, Laura Jurd, Lauren Kinsella and Mette Rasmussen, with a selection of this years artists set to feature Atlas with Rebecca Nash, Barrel with Alison Blunt and Hannah Marshall, and Faye MacCalman‘s Newcastle based Trio Archipelago whose music and reputation grows by the day!