Manchester Music City, the host partner for this year’s WOMEX (Worldwide Music Expo), have announced further details of their legacy programme, WE, THE LEADERS. Produced by Brighter Sound and running alongside the main WOMEX 24 schedule, the programme will include showcases, leadership training, commissions, industry roundtables, TED-style leadership lectures, a supplementary schools programme for Manchester’s young diaspora communities and a youth-led music conference for 16 to 30-year-olds.
With its overarching theme of ‘New Voices, New Work, Next Steps’, the programme aims to animate the city of Manchester during WOMEX 24 and ensure a long-lasting impact beyond the event, benefiting thousands of young people, music creators and professionals, and focusing on supporting those who are currently underrepresented within the music industry.
With support from Arts Council England, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and British Council, WE, THE LEADERS has 3 phases of delivery: a pre-WOMEX programme running until October 2024, activity in and around WOMEX itself (23–27 October), and a post-WOMEX programme running through to 2025.
The following opportunities are now live on Brighter Sound’s website:
- Global Music Leaders in partnership with British Council - an ambitious leadership programme that will upskill, profile and connect a cohort of emerging industry leaders and change makers from the UK & Ireland with their international peers.
- Creative Commissions - for Greater Manchester artists and collectives to produce new work that examines or challenges the future of the music industry.
- Young Producers Training - which will culminate in a youth-led music conference for 16 to 30-year-olds in partnership with Young Manchester and supported by Contact.
Additionally, an open call for artists and bands from Greater Manchester to showcase their music at the prestigious opening event of WOMEX 24 at Bridgewater Hall on 23 October 2024 is now live on Manchester Music City’s website.
WOMEX 24 will take place in Manchester between 23 and 27 October 2024 with 2,600 of the world’s music industry from 90 different countries expected to attend. The five-day event is being produced by Manchester Music City partner, English Folk Expo. Manchester Central will host the main daytime conference and trade fair, with live music showcases, club nights and films at Albert Hall, Aviva Studios, Manchester Central, O2 Ritz and HOME.
Black Lives In Music and Attitude is Everything have been added to the list of collaborators and will be working closely with the host organisations to ensure the programme and wider event is as accessible and inclusive as possible. This includes resources for people attending WOMEX for the first time.
For the latest news about WOMEX 24 and the legacy programme, take a look at the Manchester Music City’s website, or follow the organisation on Instagram on @manchestermusiccity.
