Inspiring Artists is a new creative leadership development programme designed to empower musicians and music creators who are exploring or considering working in community and informal educational spaces. It gives autonomy to artists to gain experience and create and test models of music participation and engagement which suit their own artistic practice in a particular setting. There are two strands to the programme – a Step Change weekend and a longer, in depth Fellowships programme.
Step Change
Step Change is a free weekend development programme where musicians are introduced to participatory and inclusive practice with guidance from experienced professionals and peers. This programme has space for 12 people and is suitable for established musicians and music creators new to working in community and education spaces who are looking to branch out and start gaining experience. Our first weekend will take place on 27th and 28th June 2026 in Edinburgh. Participants will be supported to attend at no cost through our wrap-around funding and access support: we can offer a £200 bursary for taking part, and can cover travel, accommodation and per diems where required. If you are selected, we will ask you what support you might need including access and expenses.
How do I apply for Step Change?
Fill in the application form or send us the information requested on the form in an email – this can be in written, audio or video format, whatever works best for you. Send emails and any files via WeTransfer.com to hello@lovemusic.org.uk. The list of questions is at the end of the page. Please ask if you have questions about how to apply or the process involved. Please read the FAQs at the end of the page first!
Deadline: 9am Tuesday 19th May. We’ll let you know if you have a place by the end of that week.
Artists taking part in the project will be able to provide evidence of their eligibility to work in the UK.
Fellowships
The Fellowships programme invites 3 artists who have some experience in community or informal educational spaces to take a deep dive into their practice, and to identify and develop a project in a setting local to them with a host mentor or mentor organisation. Artists will be holistically supported to plan, develop, deliver and evaluate their project idea over a period of 3 months. They will share their work and learnings at our Step Change weekend to inspire others. For a period of up to 2 years, participants will receive ongoing mentoring and are supported with grants and training. This part of the programme will launch in autumn 2026.
Why have we created Inspiring Artists?
We are looking to innovate and discover new models and ideas in inclusive and participatory practice, and to safeguard and empower our music workforce. We have designed Inspiring Artists because:
- Established musicians and music creators are not often supported financially to undertake professional development training or gain experience in other areas of music.
- Training programmes available in the music sector are often designed only for emerging professional musicians and can restrict by age.
- Musicians and music creators may be interested in exploring working in community participatory settings but may not know which type of setting or practice suits them best and what is involved in that practice.
- Community and informal education settings are extremely multifaceted and diverse, often requiring specific skillsets and approaches. This can be daunting, and understanding or accessing the experience needed for working in those settings can be unreachable for artists without support and training.
- Artists may have amazing innovative ideas which remain hidden as they haven’t had confidence or wraparound support to bring those ideas to life.
General FAQs
I am a musician and did not train through formal western classical routes, is this programme open to me?
Yes! Inspiring Artists encourages musicians from all backgrounds and practices to discover working in community and informal educational settings.
I’ve just begun my music career; can I apply to Inspiring Artists?
To take part, you should be an established musician or music creator, already actively working as a musician for your career. If you have just begun your music career, there are other programmes available to emerging musician practitioners in Scotland, such as the ADD THE LIST OF PROGRAMMES / A PAGE WITH A LIST.
What do you mean by ‘established musician or music creator’?
You will have been working in music as a musician or music creator for at least 2 years. You will have an established artistic practice and be able demonstrate a confidence and competence in your own area of work. We realise you may not be working as a fulltime musician or music creator.
Is this a qualification?
No, this is a professional development programme which will support your skills and reflective practice in understanding how to work as a musician in community and informal education settings.
I live in the Highlands or on an Island; how can I access Inspiring Artists?
Wherever you are based, if you are offered a place in our programme, we will support you in accessing Inspiring Artists in a way which removes barriers for you, including offering travel, accommodation, and other support.
I have access needs; can you support me?
Yes, if you are offered a place in our programme, we will work together to design solutions and offer individual support to meet your access needs.
Does this programme work with schools and instrumental music services?
No, we are focussed on developing practice in community participatory settings.
What do you mean by community participatory settings?
Examples include:
– Youth ensembles that are not related to a school or local authority instrumental music services
– Leisure time music groups, bands and choirs for any age groups
– DJ and music technology workshops
– Music workshops in healthcare settings or designed for people with a specific healthcare condition
– Traditional music or folk music groups
– Competitive groups such as brass bands, competitive singing groups, etc
– Non-professional classical groups that don’t identify as community groups
Fellowship FAQs
What do you mean by ‘has some experience’ in community and informal education settings?
We will offer fellowships to established artists who have already started exploring working within community and informal education settings and want to expand their learning or practice in a particular area with their own project ideas. We are not outlining a specific number of years’ experience, as different people’s professional experience will be diverse and multifaceted.
Who can be a mentor or mentoring organisation?
We will work together with successful applicants to identify their area of interest and match them with a mentor or organisation in Scotland. Mentors will be highly experienced in their settings and will be able to host, support and advise in a way which works for both parties. All mentors will receive training in mental health first aid and safeguarding.