Composer-Curator Frequently Asked Questions

The Composer-Curator programme is managed and delivered by the Sound and Music team as part of our Audience Engagement and Artist Development work, with local project support and guidance provided  by our partners Back to Ours, Hull and Sunderland Culture.  

Lisa Meyer, Artistic Director at Supersonic Festival will also provide mentoring to those selected for the programme.   

Composer-Curator is funded by Sound and Music, Arts Council England and PRS Foundation.  

In line with our commitment to ensure that more people can access new music locally and to support the development of cultural communities across the UK, in 2021 we delivered the Composer-Curator partnership with Back to Ours, Hull and Sunderland Culture. 

Building on the success of last year’s programme, we want to continue to support composers, music-creators and collectives who have a meaningful connection to Hull, Sunderland or surrounding areas to develop their curatorial and programming skills, realise their artistic ambitions and build more thriving, sustainable and inclusive communities for new music and sound in  these cities.   

You can find out more about the projects we have supported in Hull and Sunderland and the 2021 Composer-Curators here 

A bespoke package of financial support along with practical guidance on areas such as fundraising, marketing, audience engagement and event production will be led by Sound and Music. Back to Ours and Sunderland Culture will provide more focussed support based around local knowledge, insight and networks, and will also be involved with the selection and interview process for their respective cities.  

We believe it is essential that those applying have good knowledge of these areas and their communities in order for the programme and their projects to be successful.

To be eligible to apply for Composer-Curator 2022 you must be a composer, music-creator or part of collective aged over 18 years old and based in the UK.  

You must also be able to demonstrate a clear and meaningful connection to either Hull or Sunderland and a commitment to building a thriving, inclusive and sustainable community for new music in one of these cities.  

Unfortunately, we are not able to accept applications from those in full-time, undergraduate education and those who are currently participating in a Sound and Music programme  (eg. New Voices or Adopt A Music Creator). 

We use the term ‘composer’ to describe any individual who creates new work using sound or music, whether they perform it themselves or write for others – and whether they work with software, notes on paper, through improvisation, or in other ways.  

We welcome applications from composers, music-creators and collectives working in many different musical styles or genres – from jazz to electronic, grime, folk, non-western music, contemporary classical - in fact those working in just about any form of experimental new sound and music are eligible to apply.  

Meet some of the composers we are working with now

Firstly, we don’t mean that applicants need to live or currently be based in these cities. 

Although that would be brilliant, we are looking to support people who have some connections to these places and surrounding regions – maybe through family, study, previous work or similar – who understand these cities, their local scenes and communities.  

If you have been selected for Composer-Curator in previous years then unfortunately you are unable to apply again.   

However, we are happy to receive applications from those who have previously been selected for our other programmes where they meet the criteria.  

Note those who are currently participating in a Sound and Music programme (eg. New Voices or Adopt A Music Creator) are not eligible.

It depends. Unfortunately, we are not able to support projects that are produced by an organisation receiving core funding such as Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Scheme or equivalent, or core funding received from local authorities or higher education institutions.  

However, projects receiving funding from other sources such as Arts Council England’s Project Grants or the PRS Foundation are eligible.  

Applicants should be able to demonstrate some experience or networks that will help you to deliver your project. However, the programme provides practical guidance on areas such as fundraising, marketing, audience engagement and event production, so you don’t need to be a professional curator, producer or promoter to apply - in fact we very much welcome composers and music-creators who are looking to grow and build their curatorial skills. 

Note that Sound and Music does not produce these projects on your behalf and therefore you must be confident in your ability to deliver and promote your project.

Yes, you should have an idea of the type of event(s) that you want to create, the artists you want to work with, the audiences you want to reach, the spaces you might present in and the impact you want your project to have.   

We recognise that your ideas may develop and change over the course of the programme but your applications should be well thought out and as detailed possible, demonstrating both the ideas behind the project as well as the practicalities of how it might be realised.   

We require a clear sense of the project in order to understand whether it is achievable within the budget provided and who the project is for.   

Keep in mind that the programme takes place over a 10-month period and encompasses development and delivery phases, with completion of the programme expected by the end of February 2023.   

The more fully formed your ideas are, the easier it is for the us to visualise the type of project you might want to produce and to understand what support you might need from us.

Yes. We can offer alternative application methods, extensions for the application process, as well as financial support for anyone who needs to pay for additional access support, including at interview stage, please contact alex.noble@soundandmusic.org to discuss how we can help.

Yes. If you would prefer to submit your application as an audio or video recording, the online application portal enables you to submit a link to a site where we can view or listen. 

This could be an unlisted video link to YouTube or Vimeo. Alternatively, you can provide a link from a file sharing service like Dropbox or Google Drive. 

Please include the password, if your video is password-protected  

Your audio or video file should be 8 minutes max and address all questions in the application form except for your proposed budget template which you should submit using the usual application form. If you require support with any of this please contact alex.noble@soundandmusic.org 

Please refer to the guidance notes for more information on the criteria that will be used by selection panel to review applications.   

A strong application is:  

• Clear (and easy to read) 
• Authentic (to your voice and style)  
• Compelling (we want to be excited by your vision)  
• Realistic (we want you to be able to make this happen)  
• Relevant (we want to support works that speak to an audience) 

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview over Zoom, with the names of the interviewers provided in advance. 

To help you prepare and feel comfortable during your interview, we will share these questions within you in advance.

You will be asked to answer some standardised questions that will be consistent with all applicants.

We will also ask a number of questions relating to your specific project, this is so we can gain a better understanding of your ideas and your understanding of the audiences and communities you want to reach and the local context, as well as its feasibility within the timeframe and budget.

You will also have the opportunity to ask the panel any questions you might have in regards to this year's programme.  

We will inform shortlisted applicants in writing within two weeks of the interview.  

You can apply to Sound and Music for up to £4000 towards the cost of your project.  

Please bear in mind that the amount offered may be lower and will be determined by the needs of the project.  

Note that the approximate amount awarded per project in 2021 was £3600. 

The Impact and Insight Toolkit is a new resource to help Arts Council England’s funded organisations to evaluate the impact of their work on the people who experience it.  

The Toolkit uses sets of metrics to explore what audiences, participants and peers think about a performance, an event or a project. It allows organisations to understand people’s perceptions of their work and how this aligns with their creative intentions.  

The resulting insights can be used to inform future practice, as well as enrich the conversation between organisations and funders about the impact of funded work.  

All those selected for the Composer-Curator 2022 programme will be required to use the Impact and Insight Toolkit to evaluate the impact that their projects have had on audiences, participants and peers.  

But don’t worry! Training and support on how to use the Toolkit and incorporate it into your work will be provided by the Sound and Music team.