We’re back. Well, the reality is that we never left. But we are back working with Young People on a face-to-face basis.
It’s been a challenging year or more for everyone and we thoroughly enjoyed rising to that challenge of keeping up our work throughout lockdowns and the resulting restrictions, be that via Zoom screens or Discord servers.
But with those restrictions now easing, we are very much back in full flow. Bottega Rooms is brimming with creativity once again and faces new and familiar are rocking up to rap, produce, sing and more in our free-to-access SESSIONS.
"It's been great to welcome young people back into group sessions and hear what they've been up to over the last year - albeit they are often much bigger than we last saw them in person!” - Tom Hines, Engagement and Participation Manager
Watch this (empty) space
From one hub of creativity to another, excitement is growing around the potential for our new space on Worthing High Street. We’re taking over an empty lot in the town centre and turning it into a space for young people to create their futures.
The new spot will help us continue our work in Worthing beyond the free music sessions that we already offer. We’ll have a fully equipped music production suite, community and resident studio space, a small live music venue, a record shop and more. The works!
Ragz is excited about it as well:
“The pandemic has hit music and young people hard and this space is going to be a gamechanger. There's a lot of hidden talent in Worthing and I'm fully supportive of AudioActive's work here. I wish I'd had something like this where I grew up!” - Rag’n’Bone Man, Artist & AudioActive Patron
We recently launched a GoFundMe Page for anyone looking to donate towards the new spot, with money raised going towards everything from music equipment to Music Leaders who run our sessions. We’ve been overwhelmed by the support of many already like the estate agent Michael Jones who’ve pledged to match all donations up to £3000!
Sussex artists being shown love 💕
You would have to be living under a Brighton Rock to have missed ArrDee’s recent rise. From going viral with a freestyle on the seafront to getting a number one spot in the charts alongside Russ Millions, Tion Wayne and company. Best of all, he’s still the same ‘Cheeky Chappy’ that used to rap in our drop-in sessions.
Elsewhere, Phonetic’s been nominated for a Youth Music Award for her music video for Incense, dereck d.a.c.’s debut LP has taken him to the front page of Bandcamp and Tiawa’s signed to the esteemed record label, Tru Thoughts.
There’s also been lots of AudioActive family present on line-ups throughout May, a month traditionally so full of arts and festivals in Brighton. Miri FLC has been showing off her talent all month via Brighton Festival and Lemonade, Lookout Brighton has showcased young artists live from the Old Market and, at Lighthouse, our music leaders and the Young People they work with can be seen and heard thanks to Informals II - a brilliant exhibition on Brighton’s creative youth.
One year of AudioActive FM 🎂
It’s flown by, but AudioActiveFM is coming up to a year old. The monthly show on RadioReverb came about thanks to us being named the station’s Charity of the Year for 2020. It’s quickly become a staple for local music and matters important to Young People, with our talented team being led by Elijah (aka Nelson Navarro).
‘We’ve got a team of 8 or 9 Young People who are so committed to making the radio show great every month, it’s incredible. Everything runs so smoothly and interestingy this project has been run entirely online, keeping people busy and creative over the past year.’ - Elijah, Music Leader
Music Leader Madi showing how it’s done…
One of our resident music leaders Madaliso has been taking to our social media channels to share production tips. Showing the sort of thing Young People can learn in our Monday night production SESSIONS, the series has found a home on our Instagram and recently launched AudioActive TikTok.
A farewell to our colleague, Michael!
In early June we will wave farewell to Michael Sells, who - after 4 years of tireless graft as Director of Programmes and Development - is moving on. When Michael joined us in 2017 the job was a new post designed to bring in more funding and deliver more impact for Young People and emerging artists. The growth and achievements of the charity over the last few years is testament to Michael’s impact in the role and we wish him all the best.
We now have a job vacancy going within our office team - find more info about this via the Work With Us section of our website.
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