Findhorn Bay Arts' project backs Moray's young digital music-makers
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A MORAY arts group has clinched funding to help local youngsters develop their musical potential.
Forres-based Findhorn Bay Arts is ready to begin a programme this month – entitled REMIX – aimed at backing aspiring young musicians as they develop their creative ideas and skills, thanks to funding from the Youth Music Initiative.
The arts group will support local young people aged 16-21 who are interested in digital music making and sound production.
The team will work alongside key referral partners and youth work agencies, including Aberlour Youth Point, Moray Council, Quarriers, Keith Loft Youth Project and Elgin Youth Café.
The aim of the project – being led by Steve Gasgarth and Dave Martin from digital music company ElectroLabs – is to empower young people to have the self-belief and confidence to take risks and experiment with their music-making.
The participants will work in small groups or on a one-to-one basis – either digitally or face-to-face with social distancing measures in place.
Professional Moray-based music-makers will kick off REMIX on Monday, July 27, with a week of free online film presentations. The films will be shown daily at 5pm and can be accessed via the Findhorn Bay Arts Facebook page.
The musicians include: Monday, July 27 – Steve Gasgarth; Tuesday, July 28 – Siobhan Wilson; Wednesday, July 29 – Steve Sharpe; Thursday, July 30 – Mhairi Marwick; Friday, July 31 – Quee MacArthur; Saturday, August 1 – Dave Martin.
A free online workshop programme will then begin on Monday, August 31, which will run for six weeks.
REMIX follows on from Findhorn Bay Arts' two-year In The Mix project, funded by Cashback for Creativity, in which more than 275 young people participated across 85 creative programmes.
Project co-ordinator Steve Gasgarth is looking forward to seeing young people engage and flourish. From his experience of running previous music production sessions, he said: "I could see that participants' confidence increased in every session – along with their aspirations – especially after we put their first track on Soundcloud and they could share it with their friends."
To register to take part in REMIX, contact Findhorn Bay Arts on projects@findhornbayarts.com or visit its website www.findhornbayarts.com.
