Talent Development Partners 2021/22

We are delighted to announce our 55 Talent Development Partners for 2021/22

These organisations are working at the frontline of talent development in the UK, supporting a broad range of individual music creators across different music genres and UK regions.

The 55 organisations around the country to receive support to be PRS Foundation Talent Development Partners for 2021/22 are:

New to join the network this year are organisations Manchester Collective, Nonclassical, South Asian Arts-UK and sounduk Arts.

Talent Development Partners receive a grant from the Foundation for their year-round activity. They also work closely together and with PRS Foundation to address talent pipeline gaps through joint work and signposting. Hundreds of creators are already benefiting from the strategic partnership opportunities which have resulted from working together.

Funded activities include composer and songwriter development workshops, residencies, recording and release support, commissioning new music, live programming, advice and mentoring. Creators supported by Talent Development Partners include Little Simz, Lewis Capaldi, Ben Lunn, Yazz Ahmed, Charlotte Bray, Moses Boyd, Sam Fender and Yola.

Youth Music, with support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, add to the network additional funding and the support of Youth Music’s team to bring career development opportunities to young people across England, Scotland and Wales, helping to break down the barriers to the music industries which many young creatives face.  This year, organisations receiving this additional support will be Cryptic, Drake Music Scotland, Forté Project, Jazz re:freshed, LIMF Academy, Manchester Collective, Manchester Jazz Festival, Mercury Musical Developments, Nonclassical, Psappha, South Asian Arts-UK, Ty Cerrd and Wide Days.

In January 2021 during the annual Talent Development Conference, which this year was held online, PRS Foundation announced that music licensing company PPL would be supporting the Talent Development Partner network.  This new partnership builds on the close relationship forged between PPL and PRS Foundation through the PPL Momentum Music Fund and the International Showcase Fund and provides match funding for the Foundation’s donation from PRS for Music to allow more organisations to join the Talent Development Partner network.

As with other grantees, PRS Foundation has been supporting Talent Development Partners as they adapted through the unprecedented challenges facing organisations and music creators due to the COVID-19 pandemic – from virtual performances to creating Covid-safe and accessible spaces to work in real life and online, to sourcing vital new equipment for creators, alongside the usual transformational offerings. Network member festivals, venues and programming bodies face particularly tough months ahead but are well placed for more outstanding adaptation and post-lockdown delivery.

Find out more about our Talent Development Partner network