Making Tracks is an annual artist residency and tour based around the twin theme of musical traditions and the natural world. Every year we select eight Fellows (exceptional emerging music professionals, and more experienced musicians deserving of wider recognition) via our open call for artists. Applicants are asked to write about their musical background and interests, as well as provide some other basic information, including samples of their solo and collaborative work.

Making Tracks takes place each Autumn - this year between September 18th and October 17th. During a two-week artist residency at Cove Park on the west coast of Scotland, musicians receive professional development, incubate new collaborative works, and take time out to develop their craft and career plans. They then go on tour for two weeks, performing solo and collaboratively at 10 concerts around the country, and contributing to 10 youth music workshops. It is essential that all potential applicants read more about what we do and the information below on eligibility and selection criteria before applying.

Our next open call for applications starts on February 28th 2023. The deadline has been extended to April 30th at midnight (UK time).

Eligibility Information

Artists

We are interested in musicians whose work is connected to musical traditions and/or environmentally-engaged artists. Making Tracks is particularly interested in collaboratively-minded music professionals who double up as community organisers, environmentalists, ethnomusicologists, writers, storytellers and more.

Countries

Making Tracks 2022 is open to applicants from the UK and all other regions. The majority of musicians selected, however, will be based in the UK and elsewhere in Europe.

Age

Our focus is on exceptional emerging music professionals, and more experienced musicians deserving of wider recognition. While the majority of those we select are under the age of 35, we consider all factors carefully and do not have a strict cut-off age, since we recognise that this can sometimes be limiting to artist development and equality of opportunity.

Collaboration is key

Making Tracks aims to strike a balance between showcasing solo talent as well as giving musicians the opportunity to collaborate on new projects and explore new musical styles and traditions. For our collaborative component, musicians work together across cultural divides in pursuit of new musical possibilities. Ideally you should already have collaborated with other musicians before.

Making Tracks is environmentally-focused

We are looking for musicians who share our passion for the natural world, draw on it for creative inspiration and/or genuinely care about reducing their environmental impact. You should be open to exploring opportunities for music-based environmental engagement, whether practically, artistically, or both. Each year we have a different nature theme, which provides additional creative parameters.

Making Tracks pays fees, but is not a 'typical' paid event

Making Tracks is a music exchange programme, which pays all expenses on top of a generous artist fee. While our format means that fees are not always comparable to a typical tour, we also give fellows a chance to create new collaborative works, perform at leading venues, establish lifelong musical friendships and receive professional development from our team of industry experts.

1. Musical Excellence – A high level of performance, composition, improvisational, production and/or technological skill. Please note that we typically do not programme artists who play the same instrument in consecutive years.
   
2. Collaboration – A willingness to reach across cultural and musical divides in creating original music or re-interpreting traditional music, while respecting the essence of each tradition.
   
3. Environmental Engagement – Musicians who share our passion for nature, draw on it for creative inspiration, and/or care about reducing their environmental impact or spreading awareness of environmental issues such as climate change or biodiversity loss.
   
4. Age – No strict age limit
   
5. English Proficiency – Applicants should be able to converse in and understand basic English, as it will be the common language of the Making Tracks programme.
   
6. Internet Proficiency – Making Tracks Fellows should actively use email and have a social media presence and/or an artist website.