Making Tracks is an artist residency and tour based around the twin theme of musical traditions and the natural world.

We select eight Fellows (exceptional emerging music professionals, and more experienced musicians deserving of wider recognition), usually annually, via our open call for artists. Relevance to one or both of our two themes is more significant than what genre of music you play. 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. This year we are evolving the project to further embrace interspecies as well as intercultural music-making.

During our artist residency (9th - 22nd September) musicians receive professional development, incubate new collaborative works, and take time out to develop their craft and career plans. They then go on tour (22nd September - 5th October), performing solo and collaboratively at 10 concerts, and contributing to 10 youth music workshops.

The deadline for our current open call for applications has been extended until 8th June 23:59 (GMT)

Eligibility Information

Artists

We are interested in musicians whose work is connected to musical traditions and/or environmentally-engaged artists. We care more about whether your work engages with one or both of these two themes, than about what genre you play. 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 is open to applicants from all regions, although the majority of musicians selected will be based in mainland Europe/UK (we only accept up to one artist per year from outside Europe, as part of our environmental responsibilities).

Age

Our focus is on exceptional emerging music professionals, and more experienced musicians deserving of wider recognition. 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. The collaborative component of Making Tracks is based on listening and a non-hierarchical approach, as 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, and we are increasingly embracing interspecies approaches to music-making.

Making Tracks pays all expenses, plus a fee

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 – Openness to listening, and 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.