Jazz Promotion Network conference rolls into Leeds

From Amy Pearce at JPN

This year's Jazz Promotion Network conference will be held at Leeds College of Music on Monday and Tuesday 26-27 June. The theme will be #Jazz100 - Launching the future of British and Irish Jazz

The main discussions will take place in groups. These will focus on key issues for the ambition of the jazz sector and its relation to the arts, and world, at large. The groups will be led by experienced facilitators with guest contributors to initiate the conversation. These aren’t panel sessions – they are group debates where we want to hear from you.

To give you a taste, some of the confirmed session titles include:
• What does a future jazz workforce look like?
• Jazz representation – gender and cultural diversity
• Granting a grant – what are funders looking for?
• The impact of streaming and the digital age
• How to put jazz at the centre of major cultural events?

Each session will have a facilitator and several have a guest with particular interest or experience in that area.

Facilitators confirmed so far include:
• Tina Edwards - Jazz Standard
• Kevin Le Gendre - Broadcaster and Journalist
• Clare Hewitt - Creative Scotland
• Vanessa Reed - Chief Executive of PRS for Music Foundation
• Ros Rigby - Chair of Europe Jazz Network
• Tony Whyton - Professor of Jazz Studies at Birmingham City University

Timings: The conference will begin at 1200 on Mon 26 June and finish at 1700 on Tues 27 June and is held at Leeds College of Music. The formal AGM will be for an hour on Tuesday afternoon and there will be live music at The Wardrobe on Monday evening.

In addition to these sessions there will be
• Live music – including a series of Showcase Slots
• Interest group meetings – for those working in the same area of jazz
• A pitches and snapshots session – where we would like to hear new ideas and examples of exciting current initiatives
• JPN’s Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Live music includes a five band showcase at the Wardrobe on the Monday night with Ubunye, Archipelago and ElecTrio from UK and Eric Vloiemans and Even Sanne from Holland (possibly a jam session too!). Meanwhile down the road at the Wharf Street Cafe on Monday Cath Roberts and Sloth Racket will be strutting their stuff that evening at Leeds' hippest jazz co-op club Sproggits.

More information and booking here - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jazz-promotion-network-2017-conference-and-annual-general-meeting-tickets-33337896546