Round 2 of manchester jazz festival’s talent development programme ‘hothouse’

mjf announces the second round of ‘hothouse’: a ground-breaking new year-round initiative to help more northern artists create original music. mjf hothouse offers opportunities for northern jazz artists to develop new work over an extended period of time, presenting their “works-in-progress” at special open rehearsals in Autumn and Spring in front of an invited audience of industry specialists, programmers, mentors, festival staff and festival friends.

mjf is transforming the way in which new music is made, and in which under-the-radar artists are spotted: hothouse reaches for artists who might lack the confidence or the vocabulary to articulate ideas through standard application processes. Selected artists are given freedom to experiment and take artistic risks without fear of failure or the pressure to deliver a finished piece. They receive tailored artistic, marketing, production, business and wellbeing mentorship through a bespoke workshop and individual mentoring and also benefit from paid rehearsal and performance time so that they are not out of pocket for taking part.

The first round of hothouse was a resounding success, with participants remarking: “jazz is difficult to start with, it’s reassuring to have a programme that offers easier application” – Vicente Magalhaes. It is not only the use of a simpler application process that has benefited the musicians, but also the provision of an industry mentor with participants saying “I have  been given a wonderful mentor by mjf for this project, Julia Payne. The mjf team identified that I needed a mentor with contacts beyond the north and she is a perfect match” – Maja  Bugge.

Steve Mead, mjf’s Artistic Director, explains: “hothouse is a brand-new way of creating music. It builds on our unique commissioning scheme mjf originals: it is artist-led and targets a diverse range of artists, developing their leadership confidence and investing in them long-term. But it also extends mjf’s profile throughout the year, and will contribute towards sustainable careers for musicians in the north. I’m really looking forward to all the new music that we’ll be growing and sharing.”

To apply, all artists have to do is submit a short video responding to a few questions about their artistic vision and experience, and complete a small form providing contact details. With paid composition, rehearsal and performance, and access to top level expertise, hothouse promises to be a valuable experience for all those who participate.

Key Dates:
Application Opens: 19 January 2018
Application Closes: 23 February 2018
Interview Dates: 8 – 9 March 2018
hothouse workshop days: 21 & 22 March 2018
hothouse showcase: 16 May 2018 tbc

mjf hothouse is supported by: Help Musicians UK, Arts Council England and a PRS Foundation Talent Development Partner award.

APPLICATION PAGE: http://www.manchesterjazz.com/mjf-hothouse-2018-tips/