We’re thrilled to reflect on the incredible journey of our In Motion artist development programme which saw ten composers joining in May 2024 for an 18-month journey with us. In Motion is an artist-development programme for composers looking to make a step-change in their practice and artistic or professional development. In Motion is not just an artist development programme; it is our commitment to championing creativity and actively addressing underrepresentation and inequality in the sector. We are deeply committed to transforming the sector and remove barriers to access, and we plan our programmes to be as inclusive as possible, where composers from diverse backgrounds can thrive and reach their full potential.
Although there are many new elements, In Motion builds on over a decade of experience of running programmes to support composers and represents our commitment to taking an artist-first approach to planning, designing, and producing our artist development offer. In Motion is structured in two phases, Discovery Phase, where composers explore what creative ideas will best support their development and start planning ahead, and Activity Phase, where composers have finalised their budgets and timelines and start working to deliver their creative proposals. Composers are now at that junction between phases, where they are transitioning out of the thinking, exploratory space and into committing to action and plans for the next twelve months.
This is an exciting point of reflection on the programme’s progress and the incredible work our artists have already accomplished. In Motion has so far been a whirlwind of creativity, collaboration, and growth, and I’m really excited to share some highlights as we transition into the next phase and prepare to open applications to In Motion 2025 and welcome a new cohort of artists to our programme.
Networking Days in Huddersfield
In July, seven In Motion 2024 artists made their way to Huddersfield for our Networking Days. These two days were filled with getting to know each other, sharing work, and participating in workshops led by our team, including a workshop on audience development by our Head of External Engagement, Finn Grant. We shared meals and bonded over stories of each other’s personal and artistic journeys, which is an important part of In Motion: building a sense of cohort as well as supporting individual artists’ development.
One of the most exciting aspects of the Networking Days was that this year, for the first time ever, they overlapped with our week-long In the Making Residential, a composition summer school for young people aged 14-18 taking place in Huddersfield University. Three of our In Motion artists—Vika, Siteng, and Bunny—led a listening party and a series of workshops that were incredibly well-received by the young composers. Bunny’s workshop on genres sparked thoughtful questions, Vika shared insights into sound manipulation from everyday objects, and Siteng led an interactive session on open-source VJing software, creating fascinating visuals that the young people thoroughly enjoyed.
This was the first time we facilitated an overlap between our adult and young composers’ programmes, and it was a resounding success. It was a real joy to see our In Motion artists step into this space and share their experiences and practices with the young people, and to witness the mutual inspiration and learning that took place.
In Motion 2025
We’re very excited to announce that applications for the next cohort of In Motion will be opening in early November. Our work to design and produce these artist development programmes is deeply artist-centred, and we’re constantly iterating and evolving our approach based on feedback and reflections from composers, panellists, our monitoring data and team reflections. Following last year’s application process, we’ve made some changes to make it even more accessible and inclusive for any composers to apply to In Motion 2025.
This year’s In Motion cohort, as previous cohorts on New Voices and our other legacy programmes, is a vibrant tapestry of diverse voices and a testament to our dedication. As we transition into the next phase of In Motion and prepare to welcome a new cohort in 2025, we remain firmly rooted in putting fair access at the core of our work. We continue to build on our work to ensure our offer is relevant and inclusive.
We are proud to be a catalyst for change, nurturing the voices that will shape the future of music and looking at the next steps of In Motion I am deeply excited at the prospect of supporting diverse composers, amplifying new sounds, scenes, and cultures that enrich the musical landscape of the UK and inspire future generations.
For more updates and information on how to apply for In Motion 2025, simply visit the In Motion page soon, follow us on socials, or sign up to our newsletter to be the first to find out when applications open.
Thank you for being a part of this journey with us. Here’s to the continued growth and success of our artists and the exciting future of In Motion!
— Laonikos Psimikakis Chalkokondylis, Head of Programmes
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