The future is bright for Northern Jazz

We are delighted to announce that we have been successful in securing Arts Council England funding.

For the last ten years we have been the development agency for Jazz in the North of England. With the value of British music exports increasing year on year, we now look forward to a bright future as we place ourselves at the forefront of the new wave of groundbreaking and diverse music coming out of the North.

We bring together the disparate musical cultures of the North of England and showcase them to the world’s stage, we ensure the resilience of the scene by giving inclusive opportunities to those wanting to participate in all aspects of the music industry be it artist, promoter or crew.

A statement from our CEO, Chris Bye:

“I am more than pleased to report that Arts Council England has chosen to continue its support for Jazz North. Everyone in the team is looking forward to the next phase of the organisation and this essential funding will enable us to increase the development of careers in jazz and raise the profile of a northern scene that both reflects and supports the diversity of the entire region.

I speak for everyone at Jazz North when I say thank you to Arts Council England for its recognition of Jazz North’s essential role in enabling a thriving northern jazz scene; championing excellence on national and global stages; and inspiring a curiosity and love for the incredible music that is jazz.”

A statement from our Vice-Chair Jon Beck:

“We are delighted that Arts Council England have decided to continue its financial support for Jazz North. This funding will help sustain a vital platform in the North of England that assists up and coming jazz artists from a variety of backgrounds, inspires young people to take an interest in jazz and maintains and develops jazz networks.”

A total of £446 million per annum of investment has been made to 990 organisations across the country.

A statement from Arts Council England Chief Executive, Darren Henley: “Together, each of the 990 organisations that have been offered funding today will contribute to a portfolio that is rich, varied and truly national. This is our widest ever spread of investment across the country, ensuring that many more people will have access to a wider choice of exceptional art, culture and creative opportunities on their doorsteps. We are in tough times but we must remember creativity brings with it extraordinary dividends, boosting our country’s economic growth, creating jobs, bringing communities closer together, and making us happier as individuals. Everyone deserves to enjoy the benefits it brings, and with this investment, we believe we’ve taken a decisive step towards making that vision a reality.”