MusicFest Aberystwyth are thrilled to announce a call for jazz performers from across Wales for a paid performance opportunity as part of MusicFest 2022, and to work towards building an exciting new network for homegrown jazz acts in Wales.
What is it?
Brought to you in partnership with Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and Arts Council of Wales, this is a special collaboration to bring up to four jazz acts from across Wales to perform as part of MusicFest Aberystwyth 2022 and work to build an exciting new network for Welsh-based jazz performers as part of Archwilwyr Jazz Explorers.
Archwilwyr Jazz Explorers is an innovative research and development project developed by Cymru Jazz Wales, a network of freelance jazz and creative musicians with partner organisations including Tŷ Cerdd, music services and venues from across Wales, and funded by Arts Council of Wales’s Connect and Flourish programme.
We are seeking up to a maximum of four acts to perform as part of MusicFest Aberystwyth’s 2022 International Music Festival. Each act will receive a dedicated performance opportunity either in Aberystwyth Arts Centre, or in one of Aberystwyth’s vibrant live music venues. Whether you are a solo blues artist or a jazz crossover group, we are keen to hear from any artist or group whose creative roots are bred from Wales’ vibrant and growing jazz traditions.
Each individual artist will receive a performance fee as part of this new project, plus travel/accommodation costs and reasonable hospitality expenses will be provided.
Project outline
Each performance opportunity as part of Archwilwyr Jazz Explorers will showcase no more than one selected acts and will be embedded into the core line-up of events as part of our 2022 International Music Festival and Summer School. Each act will receive digital marketing support, and, if requested, support with the preparation of set list and hiring of performance equipment. The selected artists will be supported by a team of stage managers for the given performance, and set-up/rehearsal time will be allocated in conjunction with those selected. The broader work of the selected artists will also be promoted through MusicFest Aberystwyth, as the artist(s) see fit, plus feature as part of MusicFest’s digital showcase, Sbotolau. Sbotolau is new series of digital introductions to music creators in Aberystwyth and wider Ceredigion, hosted by Musicfest Aberystwyth on our website.
Although we would love to showcase as many acts as possible, artists are asked to complete a short application form. A panel will select up to a maximum of four acts to perform across four performance opportunities between 25th and 28th July 2022 in Aberystwyth. The selection panel will be made up of Nathan James Dearden (Associate Artistic Director, MusicFest Aberystwyth), Rachel Chadwick (Project Manager, Archwilwyr Jazz Explorers) and one independent jazz specialist.
There is no age limit to those who can apply, although we see this opportunity suiting emerging creatives who might benefit from such a platform.
We do not want funding to be a barrier to participation, and we recognise that the selected artist(s) will commit time for the preparation for this performance opportunity. All acts who are selected will be offered a performance fee of £100.00 per individual (fees for solo artists can be negotiated), and we will also provide a contribution towards core travel costs and associated expenses (Exceptional circumstances will be taken into account and additional financial assistance may be offered at the organisation’s discretion). Accommodation costs and hospitality expenses will be covered also.
Project timeline
Applications open: Monday, 28 March 2022
Applications close: Friday, 29 April 2022
Applicants notified: Monday, 9 May 2022
Performance Date(s):
10.00pm on Sunday, 24 July 2022
10.00pm on Monday, 25 July 2022
10.00pm on Tuesday, 26 July 2022
10.00pm on Wednesday, 27 July 2022
Applications are now closed
Need support?
If you have any queries about this application process or have any specific needs around applying or taking part in the project, please contact us: we want to support artists to be able to apply and to participate and will endeavour to make adjustments for circumstance where possible (e.g., specific access requirements).
If there are any barriers to your applying or participating that you would like to talk to us about, please contact musicfest@aber.ac.uk, where we will be happy to discuss any queries or concerns over the phone, by email, or by video call.