by Alice Carfrae
Move On Up
MOVE ON UP is a professional development programme for emerging creative musicians working in African and Caribbean music.
After a successful pilot in 2010, Serious produced a second edition of the scheme this year. MOVE ON UP 2011 ran from April to August and gave some of England’s most talented emerging artists a unique opportunity to take ‘time out’ to develop their musical practice and their music business skills. It was a special opportunity for these artists to discuss, explore and consolidate all aspects of their futures.
In 2010, the scheme brought in exceptional guest speakers and facilitators to deliver wide ranging workshops to the participating musicians. Guests included Mervyn Lyn (Sony Music Entertainment UK), Lorna Clarke (BBC Radio 2 and Radio 6), Esther Tewkesbury (Proper Distribution), Ben Scarr (Island Records), Kerry Michael (Theatre Royal Stratford East) and Fred Carl and Robert Lee (New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts) to name a few.
MOVE ON UP is aimed at attracting emerging professional musicians who have exceptional creative talent and who work across the genres of reggae, soul, soca, calypso and other African and Caribbean music as well as R&B, pop, indie, music theatre and hip hop (producers, MCs and rappers). In addition, the scheme is aimed at musicians who have at least five years’ professional experience and the potential to make a distinctive contribution to the local, national and international Black music community.
Here is what some of the participants in MOVE ON UP Edition I had to say:
‘I value my work more and understand my position as an artist. This will impact on how I approach the business of music.’ (Rahma Ali)
‘It has totally changed the way I look at myself and the industry, which will affect the way that I work.’ (Charles Stuart)
‘It gave me the tools to build from now into the future.’ (Muntu Valdo)
Move On Up is produced by Serious, delivered in collaboration with Dartington and Theatre Royal Stratford East and is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
For more details on Move On Up, please email, martel.ollerenshaw@serious.org.uk
Download the 2011 media release here
Download the 2010 media release here
Download article from Dartington Scene magazine here
Have a look at the photos on our Flickr page
