The Warren Youth Project (TDN 2024)
The Warren Youth Project is a youth led, Arts Council funded National Portfolio Organisation charity for young people aged 16-25. The building supports young people with education and employability support, free counselling, creative workshops, access to digital resources and skills, music tuition, talent development, free rehearsal room and recording studio and professional support with releasing music and performing live. We have been supporting musicians in the city for over 40 years and Warren Records has helped numerous young people begin their career in the music industry.
Over the 3 years we aim to hand pick a core group of exceptional artists each year with a focus on under represented groups, particularly those identifying as women/non-binary/LGBTQ+, across a wide range of genres that need support in establishing themselves on a professional level and are in need of focussed talent development and opportunities and exposure further afield. In addition it will help to increase the representation of marginalised groups within the music industry. They will have the opportunity to record an EP or a number of singles, film and release a music video, enhance their online profile, become a PRS member and be provided with chances to perform on a number of occasions throughout the years, from small intimate gigs, local and regional independent venues and large scale festival stages. These opportunities will develop these artists live performance skills and be crucial to enhancing their confidence and ability to play in front of audiences of different sizes and eclectic backgrounds. Finding opportunities to build networks outside of a home town can be difficult and we aim to push our artists to achieve success further afield, grow their fanbase and create a foundation for career development.