In an effort to continue bridging the gap between white men and black, non-binary, trans, or gender non-conforming women, Saffron is accepting applications for its Artist Development Project, Emerging. A 12-month program designed to support, mentor and guide black artists.
It's no secret that the music industry—like many other industries—is dominated by white, cisgender, heterosexual men. This was quantified in the Inclusion in the Studio report, revealing that among 800 songs released between 2012 and 2019, only 21.7% of the artists were women. The disparity is even more striking when race is considered, with only 8 out of 1,093 production credits attributed to women of color.
While this report was published in January 2020, the truth is that the record label Saffron has been working for nearly 10 years to address this issue. Serving as a reminder that there is still a space for women and non-binary people in the industry, its founder Laura Lewis-Paul created this platform to foster cultural spaces where inclusion is prioritized and welcomed.
The goal of Emerging is to establish stronger visibility, representation, and financial opportunities for Black female producers, while raising awareness about the gender and racial disparities that persist in the music world.
The project will run for 12 months, starting this December. Four successful applicants will receive tools and resources such as mentoring in Ableton, project funding, and the support necessary to release their musical creations.
Participants will also attend a 5-day artistic retreat at Hawkwood College in the UK, as well as gain access to peer support sessions and the opportunity to take part in showcase events.
For full eligibility details, visit the link below. Applications are open to Black female music producers, trans women, and gender non-conforming individuals who are 18 or older and currently living in Bristol or the South West of England.
https://saffronmusic.co.uk/stories/emerging-artist-development-2024/
