Fair Access Principles

Our Fair Access Principles are designed to act as a code of best practice for running successful, open and inclusive artist development programmes, competitions and awards for composers and artists.

The Fair Access Principles help open up a positive public conversation about our responsibility as a sector to identify where we can have impact, and how we can work together as a sector and take steps to remove barriers to inclusion or consideration. As a national organisation, we want to lead organisations in following best practice to improve the accessibility of selection processes so that a more diverse range of composers can have equality of opportunity and be represented in programmes across the country, to reflect the diversity of the UK, addressing historical inequalities and exclusion and inspiring future generations.

In order to achieve this, we work collaboratively with the wider sector to address ongoing issues around inclusion, and we advocate for our collective responsibility to remove barriers. We acknowledge our responsibility to improve the experience for all composers who apply for our opportunities, and we seek to minimise the negative impact of competitive processes on unsuccessful applicants.

We have developed the Fair Access Principles through consultation with a broad range of composers and organisations, as well as from our experience of running open call programmes.

In the series of video interviews [inset], we spoke to three composers about why they believe the Fair Access Principles represent an important and necessary step towards a more equal arts sector.

Read the full Fair Access Principles:

Why do we need the Fair Access Principles?


Since publicly committing to diversifying the range of composers we work with, we have made significant strides. The launch of the Fair Access Principles in 2020 has been a catalyst for change, for us and for all the partner organisations. Their implementation across all our programmes has already resulted in a substantial increase in the diversity of applicants at every stage: application, shortlisting, and selection. We have learned a great deal along the way and continue to refine our approach to make our programmes as accessible as possible with each iteration.

While this progress is encouraging, we know there is still more to do. Many composers continue to face barriers to opportunity due to their background, demographics, socioeconomic background and/or access needs. These inequities mean that talent often goes unrecognised and unsupported, limiting the breadth and richness of voices shaping the future of music, and perpetuating historical systems of oppression and exclusion.

At Sound and Music, we are committed to sustaining and building on this momentum of change. We are proud to have embedded all of the Fair Access Principles into our programmes and we know that improvement is an ongoing process that requires constant learning and reflection. We continue to evaluate and refine our work, sharing our learning and progress transparently.

We also recognise that creating meaningful change requires us to work together. A core aim of our work is to invite organisations to join the Fair Access Principles network and commit to timelines for implementation. Together, we can foster a more inclusive and equitable sector. To support this effort, we are actively promoting other organisations and opportunities aligned with these principles and are working to establish a national network for sharing knowledge and mutual support. We have an ambitious vision for growing the Fair Access Principles and want to build on our work so far with our partners and reach even more people. We know believe these principles have relevance beyond music and they can serve as a framework for promoting fair access in other art forms and areas of creative practice, including work with children and young people.

We look forward to fostering conversations with the wider sector and developing and adapting these principles to more contexts.

How do I sign up?


If you work for an organisation in the arts and culture sector, in the UK or internationally, and are interested in signing up to the Fair Access Principles, please email Laonikos, Head of Programmes, and start a conversation with us: Laonikos.PC@SoundandMusic.org 

In order to sign up to the Fair Access Principles, you need to carefully review the Principles and agree to implement them across any open calls for competitions, awards, funds, or artist development programmes over the next 24 months.

As a Fair Access Principles partner organisation, you will join our network of organisations and you will be invited to our annual Fair Access Assembly taking place in February/March each year, where all the partner organisations meet to share best practice, collectively reflect and move the conversation forward. You will take part in limited and anonymised data sharing which helps us measure our collective impact and identify areas of improvement across the network. We also offer 1:1 support to help you identify ways of implementing the Fair Access Principles.

If you are interested in finding out more, please sign up to one of our upcoming Information Sessions and find out more and see whether the Fair Access Principles is something you would be interesting in signing up to:

These drop-in events are hosted by Laonikos Psimikakis Chalkokondylis, Head of Programmes, and are open to anyone who is interested in hearing more about the Fair Access Principles and how to sign your organisation up to the Principles. Laonikos will share some background and information about the Fair Access Principles, explain the process of signing up, and will be available to discuss any specific questions relating to your organisation around the Fair Access Principles.


“The Fair Access Principles are a call to action for the music and arts sector. They represent our shared commitment to creating open, inclusive, and equitable opportunities for composers of all backgrounds. With our Fair Access Partners, we can collectively ensure that talent and creativity are recognised and supported, regardless of circumstance and previous access to opportunity, and that we actively work to address institutional and systemic barriers. The Fair Access Principles are not just guidelines—they are a promise to current and future generations of composers that their voices matter, and they will be heard.”
Laonikos Psimikakis Chalkokondylis
Head of Programmes

We're actively looking for more partners to join us in committing to these principles. Find out more about how to get involved by emailing our Head of Programmes, Laonikos Psimikakis Chalkokondylis, at: Laonikos.PC@SoundandMusic.org

Fair Access Principles Partners


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British Double Reed Society

"We are thrilled to have signed up to the Fair Access Principles. Embracing inclusivity and ensuring accessibility hold significant importance..."

Read British Double Reed Society's full statement and commitments

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Britten Pears Arts

“This is an important step towards more open and inclusive artist development programmes, and...”

Read Britten Pears Arts' full statement and commitments

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"Britten Sinfonia is pleased to sign up to the Sound and Music Fair Access Principles for our talent development opportunities including Magnum Opus and Opus 1..."

Read Britten Sinfonia's full statement and commitments

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CoMA

"For 28 years, CoMA has been committed to encouraging musicians of all backgrounds and abilities to..."

Read CoMA's full statement and commitments

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Come Play With Me

"As a label, we pride ourselves on supporting & developing new talent. Since 2015, Come Play With Me has..."

Read Come Play With Me's full statement and commitments

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Cryptic

"As an arts organisation, Cryptic believe that inclusion, diversity, equality, accessibility (IDEA) and..."

Read Cryptic's full statement and commitments

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Drake Music Scotland

"At Drake Music Scotland we are firmly behind the idea of a more diverse range of composers having equality of..."

Read Drake Music Scotland's full statement and commitments

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English Folk Dance & Song Society

"Inclusion and access are central to the English Folk Dance and Song Society’s aims and objectives.  We..."

Read the EFDSS' full statement and commitments

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Ensemble Matters

"We enjoy working with different creators and we believe a diversity of voices keeps us fresh. Over the years..."

Read Ensemble Matters' full statement and commitments

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The Glasshouse International Centre for Music

"Inclusion is at the heart of our work at The Glasshouse, so we are delighted to be one of the first organisations..."

Read The Glasshouse's full statement and commitments

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Jazz North

"Jazz North is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion across all that we do. We believe..."

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Jerwood Arts

"Jerwood Arts is delighted to endorse Sound and Music’s Fair Access Principles and work with partners across..."

Read Jerwood Arts' full statement and commitments

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Launchpad

"We are passionate about providing an open and inclusive artist and project development programme. By..."

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Ligeti Quartet

"We have benefited from many publicly offered schemes and residencies in the past - these are sometimes the only way to...”

Read the Ligeti Quartet's full statement and commitments

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Live Music Now

"We value diversity and inclusion very highly at Live Music Now. For this to be realised..."

Read Live Music Now's full statement and commitments

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Liverpool Philharmonic

"Royal Liverpool Philharmonic’s mission is to enhance and transform lives through music, but we can..."

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London Chamber Orchestra

"We are proud to join the Fair Access Principles because inclusivity is part of..."

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London Sinfonietta

"At the London Sinfonietta, we have been committed to making new music for over 50 years..."

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London Symphony Orchestra

"The London Symphony Orchestra has a profound commitment to diversity and inclusion, including...”

Read the LSO's full statement and commitments

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Manasamitra

"Manasamitra is a small arts charity located in the heart of West Yorkshire. We are able to see..."

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Manchester Collective

"Manchester Collective is passionate about creating opportunities for artists from different backgrounds and...”

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Music Hackspace

"The Music Hackspace's mission is to empower everyone to be creative with music technology. We champion a...”

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Music Theatre Wales

"Our ambition at Music Theatre Wales is to be a force for change: to challenge opera’s tendency to cling to the past by..."

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New Music Scotland

"At New Music Scotland we are committed to working in a diverse and open society. Committing to the..."

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Nonclassical

"Supporting emerging artists is at the heart of Nonclassical’s work across our events, record label and..."

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Orchestras Live

"Orchestras Live wants to include everyone in our work, listening to perspectives drawn from people’s diverse..."

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Open Up Music

"Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of who we are and what we do. We recognise that systems of privilege..."

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Opera North

"Opera North supports the Fair Access Principles because accessibility and reaching artists from the broadest range of..."

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PRS Foundation

“PRS Foundation believes that the success of the projects we fund is driven by the diversity of..."

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Philharmonia

"Philharmonia Orchestra supports Sound and Music’s Fair Access Principles as part of our ongoing..."

Read the Philharmonia's full statement and commitments

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Royal Philharmonic Society

"The creative industries fundamentally thrive on a diverse and dynamic range of voices. At the Royal Philharmonic..."

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Sound Festival

"At Sound, we believe that the increasing diverse society we live in should be reflected as much as possible in the..."

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Tŷ Cerdd

"Tŷ Cerdd is proud to be a launch partner in the Fair Access Principles. As we endeavour to reach out across Wales..."

Read Tŷ Cerdd's full statement and commitments

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Unlimited

"Unlimited is committed to fair access throughout the arts, and are proud to support Sound and Music’s Fair Access...”

Read Unlimited's full statement and commitments

Featured composer


Partners


Drake Music
Youth Music
University of Huddersfield