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The decs are up, we’ve written our wishlists, and we’re wrapping up warm at Reform. We are edging closer and closer to the beginning of our festive programming to draw 2023 to a close in classic Reform style. This year we’ve got a load of good tunes, exclusive shows, and vital chit chatter to take you through the holiday period. Let’s take a look at what you’ll be treated to on the airwaves…
Soundcamp: Co-Lab Sessions
21st December, 5-7PM
To kickstart your celebrations, lock into this exclusive preview of our recent Soundcamp: Co-Lab event, live from Manchester’s Blues Kitchen. The evening showcased ten individuals that partook in our 12-month artist development programme, Soundcamp, in partnerships with ten Manchester music legends. The ten duos collaborated to create a unique track to perform live at the project’s closing event. This is your chance to hear them for yourself. Trust us, you don’t want to miss the radio debuts of these formidable pairings and records.
Season Focus
24th December, 2-3PM
Over the past few months, in partnership with Manchester City Council Youth & Play Fund and Drum Happy, we have been holding creative workshops at the Powerhouse Library in Moss Side, using creative writing, rhythm and drumming to explore themes of wellbeing and self-expression. Hop into one of the sessions on the airwaves with this one hour special led by Wellbeing Manager and trained psychotherapist, Dan. In this episode, the group discuss community, loneliness and resilience at this time of year.
Please note, you can head to our Emergency Contacts page here, should you be struggling over Christmas and the New Year.
The Get Up
25th December, 10AM – 12PM
There’s no better way to wake yourself up on Christmas morning than tuning into The Get Up, with Yelena Lashimba. A spark of energy behind the mics and decks, Yelena is the equivalent of an espresso in the morning and will certainly bring Christmas joy to your household on the 25th of December. Lock in via DAB or online for this merry special of our in-house morning show.
New Year’s Eve Show
31st December 2023 – 1st January 2024, 3PM – 2AM
The countdown begins to 2024, marking the end of our 10th anniversary year. We’re ramping up the energy on the radio for your New Year’s Eve, with an undivided selection of live and DJ sets recorded from our birthday party with ShinDigger back in September. From OneDa, Mr Scruff, Obeka to the HERchester collective and more, this show features a load of our favourite Manchester artists and talent. This is a final opportunity to celebrate a decade of Reform Radio, so tune in and let our lineup accompany your new year celebrations.
What are you waiting for? Turn up the volume as the fun never stops on the Reform Radio airwaves.
Funded by MAES, our Radio Course marks the closing of our projects for 2023. Over the past two weeks, our participants have been exploring presenting, script writing, the technical aspects of radio and more, all in contribution towards their own radio show to be debuted on Reform Radio.
Listen to the show below.
We caught up with two of our attendees, Violet & Helena, to hear about their antics on the programme and where they’re heading next.
Please can you introduce your name, pronouns, and what you enjoy doing in your free time.
H: I’m Helena, my pronouns are she/her. I’m currently in the process of applying for lots of jobs and I DJ disco and house music in my bedroom. One day, I hope to start playing some live DJ sets.
V: Hey, I’m Violet, my pronouns are she/her, and in my free time I do video editing for YouTubers and I livestream on Twitch – anything to keep me being creative.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
H: Personable, energetic and exquisite.
V: I’d say creative, soft-spoken and kind-hearted.
Did you have much experience in radio or presenting before? If so, what’s your favourite thing about it?
H: I presented my own monthly show on a radio station through lockdown that I recorded from home. Also, I am part of a DJ collective and I sometimes get my mixes played on Bloop London. My favourite thing about radio is how broad it is, but I have also loved learning the technical ropes of radio throughout the course too.
V: I didn’t have that much experience in radio specifically, but I have been acting since I was younger, which I think is really transferable to presenting. Since partaking in the radio course, I have loved how you can turn any topic into a show and when you bring your ideas into Reform, your ideas are always met with seriousness.
What prompted you to get involved with the Radio Course?
H: I have always loved radio and I adore Annie Mac. I was really curious to see how radio operates and keen to view the landscape of jobs within it.
V: Every weekend, we used to travel an hour and a half to visit my family after I moved to Halifax and the entire journey we would listen to the radio. I would fall asleep to it and discover music through it; sometimes I think I forget how much it means to me. I was ready to apply this passion through my time on the course.
Throughout the project, you’ve been working on your own radio shows, what have inspired your direction with these and can you tell us about the themes of your shows?
H: My group’s show is about DJing and how to break into the industry. I am always looking for guidance on the internet on how to start gigging and getting out there so we thought we’d shape a show around this struggle and hopefully help others with it too.
V: The topic of our show is ‘transitions’. When people hear the term ‘transition’, they tend to think of gender transition. However, there are three of us in my team and all of us have unique experiences of transitional periods in our lives. For me, I experienced it in relation to my gender, another one of us had a baby which changed her life a lot, and the other member of my group had a big career change. So we wanted to address this vast theme in our piece.
Let’s throw it back to your first day at Reform versus now, tell me a bit about your first impressions/feelings/emotions in comparison to how you feel now. What has changed?
H: The biggest development I’ve noticed is how our friendships have flourished as a group over the project. I’ve loved the teamwork aspect of the course as it’s really allowed us to get to know each other and we all get along so well.
V: On the first day of the course, I was in my own head and couldn’t even speak out loud to the group. However, I have come out of my shell so much and really pushed myself to chat to everybody and get to know them. I feel sad that the course is nearly over now after growing in confidence with everybody and making some great friends with people I would never usually meet.
What will you take from the Radio Course moving forward & what are your plans from here onwards?
H: It’s given me such a boost of confidence and motivation to enjoy the creative scene in Manchester more. It’s also confirmed how much I want to work in a creative role.
V: I agree with Helena; my confidence has grown huge amounts. Also, I can’t wait to take the knowledge I have gained through the course with me in terms of sound set-ups and exploring the Reaper software. My dream job of sound-editing or voice acting no longer feels like a dream; it feels so much more reachable now.
If you could have any guest on your own radio show, who would it be?
H: I think it would have to be Annie Mac. I would love to be her mate and it would be so cool to flip the dynamic of her being a presenter, to her being a guest on a show.
V: I have two people I’d love to interview on a show. The first one would be Matthew Mercer, who is a big voice actor. It would be nice to chat to him about his journey from being a nerdy kid that played video games, to being one of the biggest video game voice actors. The second one would be my partner’s mother. She is such a lovely person and has been through so much in her life, both good and bad. It would be great to sit down with her and let her story be told.
Find out more about our Radio Course here and explore our future projects here. If you like the look of any of them, drop our lovely Engagement team an email at projects@reformradio.co.uk.
Interested in blending your passion for radio with your surroundings? High Rise is a three week creative writing course focused on taking a closer look at the gentrification of Greater Manchester. This project is funded by Manchester Adult Education Service.
Throughout the course you can expect to develop your skills in public speaking, alongside the technical aspects of designing a radio drama. When doing so, you will have the opportunity create soundscapes to underscore your dramas. You will gain great experience in building well-rounded characters and writing dialogue to form your drama pieces.
Take a look at the flyer below for full details of the course and how to get involved.
Hop behind the scenes of one of our creative writing courses below and check out what we got up to.
Meet Chris, who took part in our latest High Rise and read about their experience at Reform here.
Listen to our most recent round of participants’ Reform Radio show below.
Find out about our other free creative courses here. If any of them take your fancy, get in touch with our lovely Engagement Team on projects@reformradio.co.uk to get involved.
Over the past six weeks, we’ve been joined by a remarkable group of participants for our Positive Frequencies course. Funded by MAES and The Manchester Social Prescribing Development Fund, this programme is led by our Well-being Manager and trained psychotherapist, Dan. Throughout the project, our participants tried the likes of journalling, creative writing and more to express themselves in a safe place.
We caught up with one of our attendees, Devika, to find out what she got up to and what she’ll be taking with her upon completing Positive Frequencies.
Please can you introduce yourself, your pronouns and what you’re up to at the moment outside of the course.
Devika: Hey, I’m Devika, my pronouns are she/her and I’m currently in a transition period, so I’m using my time to taste new things and develop skills. I had such a great experience doing Positive Frequencies, that I’m now enrolled on Reform’s Radio Course too.
How do you think your friends would describe you in three words?
Devika: Talkative, dramatic and funny.
What’s your favourite thing to do to make you feel good/as a form of self care?
Devika: As someone who struggles to switch off, I’ve been practicing self care by simply taking time to rest. If I need to engage myself, I’ll
read and research self-development based subjects, but in a comfortable space.
Did you have much experience of using writing in your well-being practice already? If so, what’s your favourite element of this or what have you enjoyed about trying it for the first time?
Devika: I hadn’t really thought about the intersection between writing and well-being before, even though I’m interested in both subjects. I’ve really enjoyed the discussions surrounding wellness and how different people articulate their experiences in different ways. Each session has provided me with extensive ‘food for thought’.
What prompted you to get involved in our Positive Frequencies course?
Devika: I’ve known about Reform Radio for a couple of years and been admiring the work they do from afar. As someone who is
trying to figure out her next steps, I thought what better opportunity than to get involved in a course and learn some skills that could change the trajectory of my career.
Let’s throw it back to your first day on the course versus now, tell me a bit about your first impressions/feelings/emotions in comparison to how you feel now. What has changed?
Devika: On the first day of the course, I didn’t know what to expect. I hadn’t really done anything like this before so I didn’t know how to
respond to people’s experiences. As the sessions went on, this radically changed. Positive Frequencies has been such a safe space for myself and others to learn, unlearn and relearn.
What will you take from Positive Frequencies moving forward & what are your plans from here onwards?
Devika: I’ve learnt that being in thought-provoking discussions is an
energising experience. It has made me want to look into conducting facilitation myself. Some of the topics and themes we covered have also inspired me to build a life coaching business. I’d like to say a massive thanks to Reform Radio and everyone involved for helping me think more creatively.
Listen to the radio show put together by the participants of Positive Frequencies here.
If you like the sound of our Positive Frequencies course, find out more about the project here. You can also reach out to our lovely Engagement team on projects@reformradio.co.uk to find out about our other courses.
It’s time to exhale and take some time to turn inwards. Take a look at Positive Frequencies course, led by our incredible Well-being Manager and trained psychotherapist Dan.
This programme takes place over the course of six weeks and is funded by MAES. The project is designed to guide participants through a journey of self-reflection through the likes of creative writing and self-expression, in a safe space.
Following the course, participants are also offered access to a range of free pastoral and well-being support through our designated teams here at Reform.
If this sounds like something you can get behind, take a look at the flyer below for the full details of how to get involved.
Head over to our behind-the-scenes blog post here to meet Positive Frequencies participant, Uyama, and read what they got up to in the last round of the project.
Listen in to the show one of our previous Positive Frequencies groups created for the airwaves below.
Find out about our other free creative courses here. If any of them take your fancy, get in touch with our lovely Engagement Team on projects@reformradio.co.uk to get involved.
Following two weeks of learning the ropes of music theory and production, alongside some incredible collaborative work, our Music Course has come to a close. The project, funded by Manchester Adult Education Service, invited nearly 20 participants into the Reform Radio space to create their own tracks to be played live on the radio, as well as encouraging them to work together and fine tune their own musical styles.
Listen to the collective’s final radio show below, showcasing the tunes they created throughout the course.
We chatted to participant, Sarah, about what she got up to on the programme and what her plans are moving forward.
Introduce yourself (name, pronouns, and what you’re up to at the moment/hobbies etc).
My name’s Sarah and my pronouns are she/her. I’m producing bangers and staying positive.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
I’d describe myself as a legend, party starter and confident out of my head.
If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Now, this one may shock you, but if I could only listen to one album for the rest of my life it would probably be ‘Harry’s House’ by Harry Styles. The reason I’d listen to that particular album is because it reminds me of how beautiful life can be.
Did you have much musical experience before? If so, what’s your favourite thing about making music?
I’d say I had some music skills prior to doing the course. My favourite thing about making music is how I can use it as evidence that I am capable of creating something amazing.
What prompted you to get involved with the Music Course?
I’ve been to Reform before and the support and acknowledgement you receive from them amazes me. So being able to be part of a Reform Radio course was enough for me to want to get involved.
Let’s throw it back to your first day at Reform versus now, tell me a bit about your first impressions/feelings/emotions in comparison to how you feel now. What has changed?
Well, deep down I had some doubts but I knew I loved music and I knew I had something special to share. As soon as I walked through the doors of Reform Radio, it was like they thought a star had entered the room and their belief in me quietened my inner voices of incapability. I now know after completing the course that I am capable and I am appreciated.
What will you take from the Music Course moving forward & what are your plans from here onwards?
From the course, I will take the knowledge that the voices in my head are chatting cheddar and I am good enough.
Do you have any musical role models that inspire your practice and why?
My musical role model is Fred Again.. all day long, I just love how moving his music is; it’s proper feel good music.
Who would be your dream artist/producer to collaborate with?
I’d, of course, have to say Fred Again.. but, also, I’d love to work with Four Tet and Dom Dolla.
What’s your go-to album to listen to after a long day?
My go-to album to listen to is probably my own music, to be honest. I don’t have a full album, however I do listen to all the mixes and songs I’ve created and feel so proud.
To find out about our future free creative courses, you can head to our Projects page, or reach out to our lovely Engagement team at projects@reformradio.co.uk.
We had the pleasure of welcoming Manchester electronic artist PHIA SKY to join kaoti and sher on their recent HYPE THEM show. From chatting about her musical journey, to telling her story as a queer musician, and performing an exclusive live session on the airwaves, we were left loving PHIA and her excitingly unique tunes.
HYPE THEM, is a bi-monthly show on Reform Radio dedicated to platforming women and queer people in music, of both local and global scale. The duo also cover LGBT+ news with the help of a special local guest.
Get to know the emerging artist that we all want to be our new best friend in her quick fire Q&A with Reform below:
Please can you introduce your name, pronouns and star sign.
Hey I’m PHIA SKY, my pronouns are she/her, and I am a Gemini.
If you had to describe your music in three words to someone who had never heard it before, how would you describe it?
Fun, textural, comfy.
Where did your journey with music begin?
As a young child I’d hold my DS up to my ear on long car journeys, trying to pick apart the tunes note by note. I then got into making tunes in Audacity, layering DS sounds with kiddy keyboard presets, beatboxing and clarinet. It sounded horrendous but I’m sure if Björk put them out tomorrow Pitchfork would slurp it up.
Have there been any important figures/role models in your musical journey or any that have inspired your sound/aesthetic?
For sure – Yellow Magic Orchestra (and all associated projects), SOPHIE, Caroline Polachek, Pet Shop Boys, FKA Twigs, Sugababes, and Porter Robinson. A particular aesthetic I’m also enjoying at the moment is the whole jungle revival movement, through the likes of Nia Archives and Pete Cannon. I love repurposing those addictive 90s productions and visuals in a modern context.
Where do you find inspiration for your creativity?
Generally just from walking around, observing my environment and my place within it. I recently stopped bringing my headphones out and about with me every day, which made me more aware of how surrounded by sound we constantly are. This can get a bit lonely sometimes though, so also just anything that makes me want to dance around with my pals is a big inspiration too.
Who is your queer icon?
SOPHIE.
How does your music writing process look?
My process is all about limitations, whether self-imposed or dictated by the equipment I work on. It can be as simple as scribbling lyrics in my notebook on the tram, or as contrived as programming sequences step-by-step on the Commodore 64, a computer from 1982 which can only produce three notes maximum at a time. Once I hit the walls of these limitations, I can then bring it into the modern digital domain where I have all the tools at my disposal to polish it up. It’s the best of both worlds!
What does being queer mean to you?
A sense of inner peace and self-care.
If you had to recommend a queer-centred event, space or venue in Manchester to somebody, where would you point them to?
Tough Act at The White Hotel; an antidote to “traditionally queer” nights in terms of genre. Chipped Polish at YES; a punk night with camp bangers sprinkled in for good measure. FLUFF at Fuel; extremely wholesome and welcoming DIY electronica. And I’d be remiss not to plug Evil Things which I co-run with my other project, Flowers of Evil; curated on a genre-by-genre basis. There’s lots of wonderful stuff going on currently!
What do you see for the future of PHIA SKY? Do you have any particular goals you’d like to achieve with your creative journey?
A big overarching goal in what I do is to bridge the gap between the “DJ scene” and the “live scene”. The two worlds can sometimes feel a little fragmented, in Manchester at least. Particularly on a queer grassroots level, more unification in the creative community leads to more eclectic art and can only be a good thing.
You can check out PHIA’s live session on YouTube, and find her on Instagram @phia_sky_, all streaming platforms, and Bandcamp.
From the 8th of November, you can become a paying member of Reform Radio, and support the next generation of creatives, musicians and broadcasters. Click here to find out more.
For those of you that aren’t familiar with the work we do, Reform Radio is an arts organisation and radio station that broadcasts the best in independent music, arts and culture from Manchester to the world. We use our radio station as a tool to engage young adults from across the North into high quality creative training and to support them to build meaningful careers. We want all young adults to have the opportunity to realise their full potential.
Last year…
If you are invested in the collective mission and you’re able to make a regular donation, then we’d love you to join us as a paying member. You’ll get entered into our free monthly prize draw, with exclusive offers from our partners like festival tickets and VIP passes. As a thank you, we’ll share regular updates, showcasing the impact of your donation, with behind the scenes access to our projects and programmes.
The only difference between our support tiers is the amount you are able to give. Your donation means the world to us and the future of the organisation.
Our memberships range from £2.99 to £9.99 (+VAT) per month in cost and they are available via the Ko-Fi platform here.
One year’s Easy Listening membership could fund the travel expenses for a young unemployed adult to attend a creative employability programme.
One year’s 4 To The Floor membership could fund a radio producer to support six live radio shows on our platform.
One year’s Full House membership could fund a course of six counselling sessions for a young adult.
Whether you want to be the first to discover new music, support independent artists or you are invested in our mission as a not for profit organisation, to support young adults into meaningful opportunities, your membership goes directly into making it all possible.
Join us here in doing what we do best. We are so excited to have you with us for the ride on this next part of our journey.
We are delighted to share the news of our new partnership with Manchester’s live music marketplace GigPig, in hopes of providing hundreds of paid gigs for young people carving out their careers as professional artists.
At Reform, engaging young people is at the forefront of what we do, using our platform to help them source new opportunities, and work creatively with them to develop new skills for employment. Meanwhile, GigPig provides venues with an online platform to search, book and manage entertainment in-house, whilst offering artists an accessible method to find, play and get paid for gigs. Together, we are forming a partnership to bridge the gap between our community of emerging artists and the incredible connections GigPig have on offer.
Kit Muir-Rogers, co-founder of GigPig, himself was formerly an artist utilising the Reform Radio network to re-enter the Manchester music scene when he moved to the city a decade ago.
“The music industry is complex and hard to enter – all too often it is about ‘who you know’ rather than ‘what you know’. We’re wanting to turn that on its head by challenging the norm and democratising the system. This pivotal partnership is extremely important in terms of breaking down barriers for talented young artists who would otherwise struggle to earn money doing what they love and have trained to do.”
– Kit Muir-Rogers, co-founder of GigPig
Initially this collaboration will be rolled out across Manchester, where both ourselves and GigPig are based. Manchester’s appetite for live music is booming and we are lucky enough to hold a community of over 500 artists eager to perform and practice their artistry.
One of those artists is ATALAYA, a queer DJ who has attended several of our free creative programmes including our DJ Sessions, Music Production and Creative Leadership courses. They now DJ at festivals, in venues and on radio, making a name for themselves on the Northern music scene.
“It’s brilliant that GigPig is partnering with Reform Radio, helping to plug new and upcoming talent straight into working opportunities in this city. It’s also pivotal that GigPig will be promoting a wider variety of DJs from a diverse range of backgrounds and music tastes. Building lasting relationships with venues helps artists to secure more consistent work and this partnership will allow so many of the next generation to flourish.”
– ATALAYA
Meanwhile, DJ and researcher Latoya Reisner of our DJ Sessions course shares their success of using GigPig: “I now DJ in venues via GigPig and I love doing these jobs because they help to build my confidence and give me a chance to adapt to different environments”, acknowledging how performing early in their career has aided them in their journey.
Working together, we hope to bring hundreds of new talent to the Manchester scene, and ease the process of upcoming artists sourcing their initial gigs performance opportunities to kickstart their careers. Our Station Manager, Robin Guérard, notes “Our partnership with GigPig is a fantastic opportunity to open doors and improve access to the industry. The ultimate goal is to enable the city’s venues to discover new artists, in turn giving young artists a platform to establish themselves as professional artists; from where they can build their profile and connections to secure repeat work”.
We are beyond excited to see where this new collaboration leads, and what lineups our incredible community will get to feature on across the city.
If you’re an emerging artist, or wanting to get started in the creative industries, don’t forget to check out what upcoming free creative projects we have coming up here to join the Reform Radio community.
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At Reform Radio, we get to meet, work and collaborate with some of the coolest creatives and organisations around. In true Reform style, it wouldn’t be right for us to keep them to ourselves so we thought we’d introduce you to some of our hosts.
Meet: RELAX & BAKE FM, one of our radio residents and a platform supporting upcoming talent, who have recently launched their debut zine ‘READ ME‘.
Introduce the individuals behind RELAX AND BAKE FM
Hey! We are RELAX & BAKE FM. The team behind the project is myself (Ade (He/Him)), Ky (She/Her), Alana (She/Her), Aisha (She/Her), Emmanuella (She/Her), Ari (She/Her), Steph (She/Her), Manisha (She/Her), and Augustina (She/Her).
If you had to describe RELAX AND BAKE FM to someone who had no idea what it was, how would you describe it?
A platform for fresh talent – we provide a space for new and upcoming artists to showcase their music.
Where did it all start? What drove you guys to create R&B FM? And do you have any highlights from the journey so far?
We started at university, as we were keen on showcasing our music taste to an audience. As time went on, we wanted to become a niche show and focus solely on platforming new artists. The highlight of our journey so far has been seeing the artists we spoke to in our first year go on to become full-time artists and live out their dreams.
What would you say are the core values of R&B FM?
Our main aim is to provide a spotlight for fresh talent, as a radio show it usually means this talent is limited to musicians, but we also apply this motto to our team. A lot of us aren’t necessarily trained or have had previous experience before starting. For myself, I became a self-taught graphic designer during this process. Essentially, we all trust each other and we try to match up what is needed to each of our genuine interests.
So, you guys have recently debuted the e-zine ‘READ ME’ – why did you want to create a zine and what have been your favourite elements of getting it up and running?
We wanted to do our part in response to the George Floyd riots in 2020, which was around the same time we started the show. As time went on, I thought it would be good to make a separate platform which can be solely dedicated to providing a solution; a platform that would exist with a social purpose. This is how ‘READ ME’ was born.
How would you describe ‘READ ME’ to someone that’s never heard of it before?
‘READ ME’ is a platform for Black representation in all fields, industries and career paths. The aim is to inspire our audience to pursue their own dreams and passions by showing how realistic it can be achieved.
If you could interview anyone for ‘READ ME’, who would it be and why?
I would love to have interviewed Reggie Osse of the Combat Jack Show. He was a huge inspiration for me in creating the zine. His podcast conversations were always aspirational and, as a former entertainment lawyer, he would regularly drop gems about the music industry. He was also an editor at The Source Magazine which was one of the best hip hop magazines of its time and remains a staple of hip hop culture. He passed away a few years ago but I would have loved to pick his brain and get some advice from him.
What do you see for the future of ‘READ ME’? Do you have any particular goals you’d like to achieve with it?
My aim is to have a positive social impact with ‘READ ME’. I want it to be a catalyst for change and improvement; a conduit for people to achieve their dreams. What does this look like? At the moment, I don’t know. We are starting out with the zine but would love to branch into other forms of media. What I do know is that we are excited and ready for the journey that this will bring!
Do you have any cool social media accounts people should follow to find new and upcoming Black talent?
Big People Music, Pedestall Magazine, Quake Magazine, Black Brighton and Kollab Network.
Who are some rising Black creatives we should be aware of right now?
Renzniro, Tunde, Ella Mayamothi, Bridget Eke, Steph MJB, and K Orion.
As well Reform airwaves, where can people find RELAX AND BAKE FM & ‘READ ME’?
Our social media channels are @readmemag.co.uk and @relaxandbakefm. You find our website here.
Caveman recently featured on the Jorgy & Cheech Show and shut the studio down. The MC come Creative Facilitator recently released his new EP ‘Civilized Habits’, and we were treated to a live session and chit chatter on the airwaves in celebration.
Caveman has been making a name for himself as a lyrical master on the UK hip-hop scene, with his thought-provoking words and striking story-telling. When Caveman gets behind the mic, we are invited in to hear about his personal urban experiences as he openly and authentically speaks his truth.
Watch the full live sessions below & listen back to the full show.
The Black Artists Grant (BAG) offered by Creative Debuts as a no-strings attached financial support to help black artists. They can spend the grant on whatever they want – be that make new work, buy equipment or materials, travel, research, visit exhibitions or conferences, or to even just cover some life expenses.
This grant has been set up because Black artists are systematically under-supported by the art world; by institutions, curators, the artist-led scene, major and minor funding bodies, the market, art schools, and by audiences too.
Creative Debuts recognises that a full institutional overhaul and dismantling of racist structures is required to transform the industry permanently, but they hope in a small way that this grant will help enable recipients to continue their artistic practice when the odds are so stacked against them.
Our High Rise project, kindly funded by Manchester Adult Education Service, has come to a close. Over the course of three weeks, participants have been supported through a journey of creative writing, in progression towards creating a radio drama piece, surrounding themes of gentrification and life in high rise buildings. You can listen back to the final radio drama pieces on the show below.
The group were also visited by Louise Wallwein MBE, award-winning Manchester poet, playwright and performer, who delivered a poetry session to the participants and aided them with their creative process.
Following the participants debuting their radio dramas on Reform Radio, we caught up with Joanna & Emma to chat about their experiences on the course and where they’re heading from here.
Please can you introduce yourselves, some of your hobbies and what you’re up to at the moment
J: Hey I’m Joanna, my pronouns are she/her, and outside the course I take part in amateur dramatics and I’m a massive fan of wild camping.
E: I’m Emma and my pronouns are she/her. I love creative writing in my free time. I also do a lot of drawing which I’m hoping to start doing some commissioned work with.
Describe yourself in three words
J: This is so difficult. I would have to say bubbly, personable and creative
E: Resilient, friendly and creative
What prompted you to get involved in the High Rise course?
J: I was already interested in Radio anyway so coming along to Reform was really appealing. I also thought it would be a great opportunity to put pen to paper on some of my creative ideas I had been having but not cracking on with.
E: After a series of personal struggles, I was ready to get back out there and kickstart my creativity again. I was ready to meet some new people too.
Did you have much experience in creative writing prior to the course? What is your favourite thing about it?
J: My favourite thing about creative writing would be how much you get to learn in the process which allows you to put a piece of work together that exist outside of your previous realm of knowledge.
E: I love the spectrum of things you can address through creative writing; it is completely boundless.
What is your favourite book or poem you have ever read?
J: I think everyone has a book from when they were a child that they still feel attached to and remember as their favourite. In this case, for me, my favourite book is ‘The Voyage of the Arctic Tern’ by Hugh Montgomery.
E: The only one I can think of is ‘Blood Ties’ by Sophie McKenzie.
If you throw it back to your first day at Reform, verus now, how have your feelings and first impressions changed?
J: I’m really impressed that these courses even exist, to be honest. I think as I’ve progressed through the project I’ve been continuously surprised at the quality of its delivery and the amount of care and well-being support you guys offer to participants too. It’s an incredible initiative which encourages young people to really create something they are proud of .
E: I got in touch with Reform months ago regarding their courses and I didn’t realise the longevity of support I was going to receive. The lovely team still keep in touch with things I may want to get involved with, but I also know I will always have someone to turn to if I need a chat or assistance.
Where do you guys find inspiration for your writing or creativity generally?
J: I am really inspired by continental philosophy. It provides a lot of inspiration for the the things I end up creating, writing and painting.
E: I listen to a lot of music whilst I create, which usually leads my creative process. Mitski is a personal favourite of mine.
What will you take from the High Rise course moving forward?
J: Hopefully some great friends as we’ve all really enjoyed meeting each other and hanging out. I’ve also found that the course has really helped me with breaking my writers block, alongside my struggle with bringing ideas to fruition, so I hope to use the tasks that aided this in my everyday practice.
E: I also hope to take some incredible friends from the course, but also potential collaborators to utilise in the future. I have also learnt how to prioritise workload well and manage timings better so I hope to take this skill with me moving forward.
To find out more about our future free creative courses, get in touch with our lovely Engagement team on projects@reformradio.co.uk.
Following a remarkable 12 month journey of mentorship at Reform Radio, we are delighted to bring you the final showcase of Soundcamp 2023 on the 25th of October, at Blues Kitchen Manchester.
This one-night exclusive event marks the end of our renowned artist development programme, Soundcamp, which is funded by Youth Music and held in partnership with Thirty Pound Gentleman. Soundcamp offers 16-25 year olds extensive mentorship with established music industry professionals, Jenna G, Werkha and Anna McLuckie, and offers high quality access to work and insight into the music industries. Mentees have to opportunity to develop their music and songwriting, collaborate with a range of professionals, attend masterclasses and hands-on coaching.
In celebration of completing their incredible year of progress, our Soundcamp artists have each teamed up with one of a collection of Manchester’s favourite artists to write and perform an original track live. The evening will be the first opportunity to hear these tracks, and witness the beginning of some formidable artists’ journeys.
The ten duos of Manchester icons and Soundcamp participants make an unmatched lineup. From the programme we have Bennett Is Coming, Bake Gently, Beatrix Dexter, Waves, and LC. We also have Micah Stalgic, Saint Harmony, Simplici-T, Saffi Amber, and Karis Jade in the house.
The Manchester favourites joining the collective are of all genres and artistic backgrounds. HERchester leader OneDa, Superlative, Kin Kai, Contours and Meduulla make up one half of the artists.
Meanwhile, there will also be Sarah Angel, Iora, Blind Mic, Anna McLuckie and Mattu joining the Soundcamp finalists.
Tickets are available here for free or you can pay as you feel to support this brilliant initiative. This is the perfect time to catch some new talent before anybody else and witness a collection of iconic pairings live on stage.
We are delighted to invite you all to this Melting Pan & Terra Nova Productions adaptation of 2018’s stage production of Me You Us Them, previewing exclusively at Reform Radio, on Thursday the 12th of October at 6.30pm.
The production will bring characters to life from various cultures in Northern Ireland, including voices and experience from Nigeria, rural Armagh, Belfast, China, Jamaica and Donegal. Informed by conversations with real people from across Northern Ireland, the piece has been curated through Terra Nova’s ethical intercultural practice. Experience the angry, funny, hopeful and heartfelt voices of complex characters, which make an extraordinary difference to those we usually witness on main stages.
The Me You Us Them creative team is led by mixed-race actor-director-producer Melissa Dean, supported by Andrea Montgomery. Through the process, the pair discovered new ways of sharing theatre on film, as they took ownership of sound scope and production elements, making it an exciting immersive adaptation to delve into as an audience member.
As racism and fascism is continually rising across the post-pandemic world, the accounts of racial experience in Northern Ireland through the production are strikingly important and current. This marks the piece as a necessary production to experience, in hearing real stories of racism, identity and sense of belonging.
You can grab your Pay As You Feel tickets now here.
To apply, you need to identify as Black, Asian, Brown and/or part of the Global Majority aged 18 or over and based in the UK. For all other information and tips on making the best application possible – you can find detailed application guidance here.
You can explore the work of previous grantees here.
How can I apply?
First, check out the application guidance, then complete and submit a short application form. You can submit it in writing, or upload an audio/video file. Apply here.
When are applications open?
20 grants per round will be awarded.
Follow Grand Plan Fund on Instagram or sign up for the newsletter for news and updates.
If the applications are closed, please see this page for some other funds to apply to in the meantime.
This year, October marks Black History Month 2023 and this year’s theme is ‘Saluting Our Sisters’. The theme is a gracious nod to the crucial role that Black women have played in shaping history, inspiring change, and building communities, alongside highlighting the #WEMATTER campaign which amplifies and notices the vitality of their voice. Not only this, but this year’s campaign also aims to challenge the systems that oppress Black women and actively inspire future generations.
Black History Month is a momentous occasion to recognise and celebrate the invaluable contributions of Black people to British society. From looking back to the historical impacts of Black individuals, to celebrating the work and motions of them today, to looking forward and empowering future recognition of such individuals, Black History Month encourages a necessary acknowledgement of the Black community.
In honour of the occasion, Reform will have collated a list of events around the North West to attend in celebration of Black History Month. Check them out below and be sure to show up and support the #WEMATTER movement.
Multiple dates
Manchester Museum, Oxford Road, Manchester
This year, Manchester Museum will be holding three workshops using the themes of ‘Saluting Our Sisters’ and ‘Before Windrush’. These include a writing workshop for adults, a family story-telling session, and a print workshop. Use the museum’s extensive Afro-Caribbean collections to inspire you in these creative workshops.
Brighter Sound x Vic Meets Workshops
Multiple dates
33 Blossom Street Unit 2, Manchester
Brighter Sound teams up with Vic Meets for a series of workshops and panels this autumn. From songwriting and freestyling to DJing and broadcasting, with industry advice at every turn. All will be hosted by BBC Radio 1 presenter and R&B/Soul artist Victoria Jane, with guests fronting each workshop, including DJ Chaise, Akemi Fox, G33 and Layfullstop. There will be plenty of time to ask burning questions and get practical experience in the workshop areas. All workshops are free but please book in advance.
5th October, 6.30PM
Feel Good Club, Manchester
Enjoy an incredible line-up of our specially curated storytellers telling you their story, unfiltered and in their own words. In addition to the line up, true to our open mic roots there will be a couple of spaces open for budding storytellers, so feel free to come with your own five minute true story in mind. Our events are as much about the joy of hearing the voices of others, of finding there’s a story in each person, and coming to connect and learn.
The event is also raising money for CAHN and Kids of Colour.
7th October, 12PM – 4PM
The Portico Library, Manchester
The Black Writers Guild has hired the Portico Library in Manchester to provide a positive space for you to hear from published authors, and to connect with other emerging and established black writers in the north and midlands. Guest speakers include the incredible Diana Anyakwo, Yvonne Battle-Felton, Danielle Jawando, Okechukwu Nzelu and Kimberly Whittam.
8th October, 8PM
The Frog and Bucket, Manchester
This is a comedy night that is not only packed to the brim with jokes but also celebrates the vast array of comedic talent throughout Black History Month. We pride ourselves on championing comedians who appeal to comedy lovers of all backgrounds – so grab your tickets and head down for a night of good vibes!
14th October, 1PM – 4PM
The Space, Stockport
As part of the Ubuntu Festival of Events for Black History Month, The Zebra Partnership has collaborated with Stockport Race Equality Partnership to deliver a weekend of events in Stockport. On Saturday 14th October, Carol Ann Whitehead will be bringing back Miss Diagnosis and hosting a special BHM ‘Miss Diagnosis Lunch and Learn’ – a panel discussion about Black Women’s health and incorrect diagnosis from maternal care to breast cancer. After the discussion there will be a chance to network with Afrobeats and enjoy some African Caribbean food. All are welcome.
20th October, 7PM
The Brewers, Manchester
A-POC-ALYPSE CABARET is a horror inspired event, showcasing queer artists of colour on a stage created for us, by us. This is a safe space to enjoy queer POC artists whose style of performance and creative vision is celebrated. Get ready to experience a powerhouse of POC talent, from some of Manchester’s finest and across the UK. This is going to be a cultural reset, bringing queer POC monsters to the heart of Manchester’s Gay Village! This month’s line-up features Eva Serration, Romeo De La Cruz, Jada Love, Lilly Snatchdragon & The Bollywitch.
MAMAWE Afro-Pean Dance Festival
21st October, 1.45PM – 5PM
Croft House Centre, Sheffield
MAMAWE brings you an experience you do not want to miss, a workshop focused on celebrating BHM through movement. Join dance teachers and choreographers, Angelina Abel and Adriano Oliveira who will lead this brief introductory session, drawing inspiration from the Angolan heritage, providing you with an opportunity to relax, express yourself, and emphasise the significance of purposeful movement.