As a Pathfinder venue, along with Sage Gateshead and Hallé Orchestra the Roundhouse will pioneer and pilot an innovative programme of events, to bring the aims and ambitions of the Manifesto to life in a way which powerfully impacts on the world of music and young people, creating a lasting legacy of learning which can be shared across the country.
The Roundhouse will focus on key strands of the Manifesto: youth leadership, music leader workforce development ( particularly those working with 11-18 year olds) and promoting opportunities for performance and participation.
Guy Chambers with participants in 'Live Jam Plus' at The Roundhouse (credit: Marilyn Kingwill)
A focus for demonstrating this work will be a series of high profile, high impact events around the BBC Electric Proms from 25-29 October which offers a range of opportunities for young people to participate in the Under 18s programme of events. The wealth of opportunities on offer include ticket giveaways, shadowing technical professionals, staging youth-led performances at Camden’s Dingwalls venue, a guest DJ spot with Pete Tong and creating documentation of the BBC Electric Proms in print and broadcast media, including Roundhouse Radio, as well as podcasts.
Of course, all of this will be in addition to some really exciting and ambitious work as part of the core music activity as pioneered by Roundhouse Studios including Jazz workshops, Live Jam Plus, band rehearsal nights, masterclasses and work connected with gigs in the legendary Roundhouse Main Space.
All Roundhouse projects are about two things - artists and young people – both are creative and both can be unpredictable, which is perfect for sharing excitement and generating ideas and new work. Thanks to the long-term financial commitment of the Department for Education and Skills, the Roundhouse is now in an even better position to meet the challenges of the Music Manifesto and the expectations of a new generation of music makers and music lovers.