For project managers, programme managers, freelancers, music hub and service leads, music tutors, policy makers and anyone interested in inclusive music activity for children and young people.

Positive Pathways will interrogate different avenues into creative careers for young people, including:

• How organisations and individuals can support career progression
• Opportunities to break down music making barriers for young people
• Practical examples of different models we can adopt
• Challenging what makes a ‘successful’ career

There were so many new perspectives for me! A real celebration and exploration of what works, and could work.

Featuring:

• A keynote from Roger Wilson (Black Lives in Music) on what we can do as a community to enable progression
• “Get A Real Job!” – a live podcast by young leaders discussing creative careers, existing barriers and how we can support progression. With Jeff Thompson (Un-Convention) and more guests to be announced
• An interactive workshop with Julia Payne (the hub) on how we can build, support and maintain a healthy and happy workforce. With honest discussions on working conditions, fair pay, wellbeing, and how we can unify our approach
• Provocations on being relevant, accessible and inclusive with Lucy Wallace (Brighter Sound), Jo Yee Cheung (Olympias Music Foundation) and Sarah Fisher. How can we enable access to progression routes for young people from all ages and backgrounds in a responsible way?
• A musical inclusion presentation and discussion with specialist Phil Mullen. Following his work with 46 music hubs, he’ll explore understandings of inclusion and shared areas for development
• Live music curated and performed by the Youth Reaching Out Network
• Opportunities to meet and connect with other musicians and educators

Positive Pathways is about being bold, challenging ourselves and feeling inspired to make change.

This event will be BSL interpreted.

Where and When

Thursday 24 March, 9.30am-5.30pm at Contact, a short distance from Oxford Road Station and Manchester city centre.

Head to their website for full information about transport links, parking and COVID measures in place (which we’ll be adhering to on the day).

Online tickets are available for those unable to make the conference in-person.

Tickets

Organisations: £30 in-person, £15 online

Freelancers: £20 in-person, £10 online

Unwaged, students, apprentices and trainees: Free

Price includes lunch and refreshments throughout the day.

This event is part of the Reaching Out Network – a training, development and future-thinking network for project managers, programme managers and anyone planning and managing inclusive music activity across the North West for children and young people.

The Reaching Out Network is delivered in partnership by Brighter Sound and More Music, and is supported by Youth Music as part of the Alliance for a Musically Inclusive England, which is made possible by funding from the National Lottery via Arts Council England.