Urban artists can dare to dream

“Urban Development, a charity which provides support and advice to young people trying to make it in underground music, has spent 12 years proving that a strong social conscience doesn’t have to mean governmental do-gooding. While its foundations are philanthropic, it’s become a serious music industry player.”
The Guardian, 2012

For years, Urban Development has been helping young urban music artists to develop their music and establish themselves. Now the charity is taking support to another level. This September the charity will be running an “art school for urban music” in conjunction with Wayne Hector. The course is part of Urban Development’s Dare to dream project, which is being funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

Their aim is to redefine the way in which urban music is treated by using the same methods which are used by those on art courses. Artists who join the course will build a portfolio of work which they can then use as a basis to go into the commercial music market.

The programme will allow talented young people to explore street art and music in an environment traditionally reserved for so called “high art” practitioners. The emphasis will be on experimentation and creativity in all aspects of modern music making and presentation with an aim to developing distinctive, commercially viable music product.

The charity is especially excited that Legendary songwriter Wayne Hector has agreed to become the patron of The Urban Artist School. Wayne Hector, one of the most successful songwriters in British pop, is responsible for over 30 international Number Ones for artists including One Direction, Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj, The Pussycat Dolls, Kylie Minogue, Labrinth and Olly Murs and many other well known hits.  Wayne is equally delighted to be involved, explaining, “The progression routes provided by this exciting new course have parity to those that already exist in other forms of music making, such as Classical and Jazz. I am excited about my involvement as we lay down a developmental foundation for young people making urban music.”

Tutors on the course will all be practising artists, industry specialists and educationalists who share a vision to make music education relevant to contemporary lifestyles.

The course will start in September and will be located in East London. It will involve attendance for two days a week for 36 weeks.

Urban Development is looking for bright, innovative and determined musicians from London to form the first cohort of this course. If that could be you, telephone Sonia Lampkin on 020-8536 0630 or email Sonia@urbandevelopment.co.uk.

•For more information about Urban Development, go to http://urbandevelopment.co.uk.