ARTS DIARY
Youth Music nominees: Youth Music, the UK’s leading young people’s music charity, has announced the nominees for the 2023 Youth Music Awards, including four local Leeds artists. The four nominees from Leeds are George Bloomfield who is up for the Music Video Award; Kindelan, nominated for the Live Performance Award; the Original Track Award nomination has gone to Treeboy & Arc and Antonia Lines has been nominated for the Inspirational Music Leader Award. Last year’s winners of the Rising Star Award were Leeds band English Teacher who have since gone on to achieve significant success including securing a slot at this year’s Glastonbury Festival. “It’s so exciting to see the people and projects innovating within the grassroots music scene,” says Matt Griffiths, Youth Music CEO.
Unlimited Theatre grants: After 25 years producing new work for national and international audiences, Unlimited Theatre, formed by six Leeds University graduates, is embarking on a new chapter to create more opportunities for emerging companies.
New grants, the unAwards, each inspired by key milestones in Unlimited’s history, aim to enable greater collaboration, experimentation and inclusive practice for artists and creatives. Awarding a minimum of £25,000 in 2023/24 and £30,000 in 2024/25, Unlimited Theatre will strive to support the next generation of theatre makers and, in their retirement, leave a lasting legacy.
Wellbeing benefits of choral singing:
Award-winning West Yorkshire-based charity Made with Music (MwM), which provides accessible live music for families, has been working closely with the Leeds Perinatal mental health team for over four years providing singing sessions for mothers receiving care from the service, and their babies. These sessions have been valuable for improving the mental wellbeing of mothers. MwM began a family choir at the perinatal mental health unit in 2020. Research has found the majority of participants experienced health benefits from attending 10 sessions. MwM are looking to secure further funding to continue this vital work and have launched a Friends Scheme. Details madewithmusic.co.uk/friends