EXPERIMENTA

We believe music has the power to move and excite us.

At Manchester Collective, we are known for adventurous programming of live music spanning centuries; daring collaborations with forward-thinking artists across different genres and artforms; and engaging live experiences that break the barrier between performer and audience. 

The Collective is not a set of fixed musicians and creators, but something more fluid. We collaborate with electronic and sound artists, theatre companies, filmmakers, jazz and folk musicians. Our extended creative team includes storytellers, creative producers, photographers and fundraisers. 

To us, reshaping the future of contemporary and classical music means staying curious, taking risks and breaking away from predefined categories. 

You can read more about Manchester Collective and dive into our YouTube video channel. 

The possibilities of contemporary classical music are endless. It’s a living, breathing artform. But to keep it alive, we need to address the barriers to enter the industry. Through EXPERIMENTA, we hope to open this world up and make it more welcoming and accessible to a broader range of people.

Maybe you’re curious about classical and keen to experiment with different sonic palettes, instruments or musical collaborators in the creation of new work. Or you might be a classically-trained composer who wants to expand their art practice beyond concert hall convention and test out a new approach. We believe that the best work comes from artists who are nurtured and challenged, given space to explore and gain new skills.

What we’re looking for is that special spark that happens when you bring together different voices in the same room. EXPERIMENTA focuses on the artistic process, expanding how we can devise music communally and take creative risks together.

Over the course of EXPERIMENTA, we’ll provide you with the guidance and resources to take your music practice to the next level and create a new piece of work. 

This isn’t one-size-fits-all. We’ll tailor parts of the experience to the cohort of artists we work with, taking your individual practice and needs into account. However, all participants can expect:

• A bursary of £1,125 with extra support available for travel, accommodation and access needs

• Access to our musicians, violinist Rakhi Singh and percussionist Beibei Wang, to devise and perform new work 

• A two-day residency in Manchester, led by Rakhi and Beibei, that focuses on creative experimentation, sharing practices and exploring conceptual starting points for new work

• An in-person group critique and 1-2-1 online mentoring led by composer Héloïse Werner, offering feedback on your work-in-progress

• A live showcase event in summer 2025 profiling your work, whether it’s in progress or complete

• The opportunity to spend time with other forward-thinking creatives in a supportive environment where everyone can learn from each other

Come as you are. We want you to bring your authentic self to EXPERIMENTA. We’ve set out some specific requirements so you can consider whether this opportunity is right for you and your practice at this time. 

To be eligible for the scheme, you should be able to demonstrate that EITHER your practice is based in the north of England OR you create from elsewhere in the UK and have experienced barriers to entry. This could be due to disability, neurodivergence, socioeconomic disadvantage, being female, non-binary, trans, global majority, or LGBTQ+. You should also be aged 18 or over.

EXPERIMENTA is likely to be a good fit if: 

• you create and perform your own music, or you write original music for others to perform, and can share examples of it (complete or work-in-progress) 

• you have an interest in contemporary classical music, regardless of previous experience with it – you may or may not be trained in music theory or composition

• you’re seeking to move your practice on and experiment in a new or deeper way

• you’re curious and open to musical dialogue, with sensitivity and respect for others

• you’re up for documenting your creative process and the development of your practice

• you’re ready to challenge yourself and any assumptions you might have about classical music

EXPERIMENTA runs from February 2025 until summer 2025. If you’d like to take part, we expect you to be available on the following dates, where specified: 

• Applications open, 3 December 2024–12 January 2025 

• Application outcome, no later than 31 January 2025 

• Introductory meeting and workshop (online), 24 February 2025, 6–8pm

• Manchester residency at Low Four Studio, 4–5 March 2025

• Composition workshop at Low Four Studio, 23 April 2025

• 1-2-1 mentoring session (online), May–June 2025 

• Live showcase event, summer 2025

To be considered for EXPERIMENTA, you need to submit an application form no later than Sunday 12 January, 11:59pm. 

If you have any questions about the application process, or the programme as a whole and whether it’s right for you, please get in touch with our dedicated project manager Jonas Roberts on jonas@manchestercollective.co.uk. 

The application form will ask you for some details about yourself, along with the questions below. This can be filled in using written, audio or video answers. You can save your answers and come back to them or, even after you’ve submitted, edit them up to the deadline. Please keep your written answers up to around 200 words per question or audio/video files no longer than 5 minutes in total. 

1. Tell us about yourself and your creative music practice.

2. What’s your relationship with contemporary classical music? What about it excites you?

3. Why do you want to take part in EXPERIMENTA? How will it help you develop creatively and professionally?

4. Has anything held you back from accessing opportunities in contemporary classical music before?

We’ll ask you for links to up to 3 examples of your work (public or private). We’d like these to be as recent as possible – we want to hear where you're at now. Don’t worry if they’re unreleased or works-in-progress.

Finally, you’ll be asked to complete some demographic questions about you and your identity. This will be used to ensure the selected cohort fulfils the aims of the project in equalising opportunity for underrepresented creatives in the contemporary classical music sector.

You’re welcome to use help from a personal assistant (PA), carer or friend in filling in the application form. We won’t be judging your submission based on the style of writing, spelling or grammar – bullet points are fine! Complete the application in whatever way is going to help best express who you are, your creative practice, and how this programme will support your journey.

After the deadline, your application will be assessed by a panel consisting of Manchester Collective’s co-artistic directors Rakhi Singh and Jasmin Kent Rodgman, project manager Jonas Roberts, and guest panellist Lexy Morvaridi (artist, musician, music programmer). Shortlisted candidates will be contacted via email in the first instance. We’ll aim to let all applicants know the outcome no later than 31 January 2025. Unfortunately, due to the expected application volume, we’re unable to provide individual feedback to all applicants.

Please reach out if you have specific access needs relating to the application process or any part of the programme. You can contact our dedicated project manager Jonas Roberts on jonas@manchestercollective.co.uk with your questions or to arrange a call. 

In terms of specific financial support, we’re able to provide:

• A contribution towards childcare costs for the in-person residency and workshop days (3 in total) and the live showcase event 

• Accessible travel and accommodation, where needed

• A contribution towards Personal Assistant (PA) costs, including their travel and accommodation

We can also discuss space for prayer, breastfeeding, quiet time, wheelchair access, or anything else you might require.

In-person sessions will be held at Low Four Studio located at Deansgate Mews, Greater Northern Warehouse, Manchester, M3 4EN. 

• Low Four Studio has level access through a public lift from Deansgate or within Great Northern Warehouse

• The main space is across a single floor

• Green room, kitchen and toilets are down 20 stairs (81cm max access width, 26cm treads, 20cm uppers) from main space, or through step-free access via an access corridor (73cm door width) on Deansgate Mews

• The nearest accessible toilet is opposite Low Four, in the ODEON cinema

• The nearest train station and tram stop is Deansgate, 0.2 miles from Low Four Studio. The studio is 1 mile from Manchester Piccadilly train station, and 1.2 miles from Manchester Victoria. The nearest bus stop is Sovereign House, 27 metres away.

Successful applicants will be invited to provide an access rider outlining preferences in communication methods, travel, accommodation and to share any other access needs. We have a template for this or you can provide your own. We’re also able to book in 1-2-1 conversations to discuss requirements or potential alterations any further.