The Start Of Reinvention Part 1
I am Roland Lim, a Singaporean music producer on placement with Rhythmix as part of the Youth Arts Attachment programme from the National Arts Council, Singapore. I will be spending the next 12 weeks here ( 12 May to 1 August ) with Rhythmix to learn and understand the Music culture and funding systems in the UK.
Today marks the 2nd week of my Youth Arts Attachment with Rhythmix , a music charity based in Brighton,UK and working across South East England that helps young people in challenging circumstances make music to better their life chances. I am extremely thankful to have received a grant from the National Arts Council ,Singapore ( NAC )along with 3 other Singaporeans (attached to different organisations ) to be able to spent the next 12 weeks here to learn about how the charity operates and to understand the UK music culture here.
For more info about NAC and my Youth Arts Attachment : https://www.nac.gov.sg/arts-you/for-everyone/youth/overseas-youth-arts-attachments
The Learning Experience
What has surprised me from my time at Rhythmix is how tough the funding climate can be and how important it is to have robust and clear policies as an organisation to be able to thrive and be agile in such circumstances.
A lot of the learning I've done over 2 weeks has been mainly thru cloud-based systems and havinglong fantastic conversations between my mentor Lucy Stone (Strategic Director, Rhythmix) and Mark Davyd (CEO,Rhythmix) .
I also managed to get an up close understanding of how a CEO level management position such as Mark treats and works with his staff, and the importance of being clear, direct and honest with tutors and partners involved yet be emphatic and respectful to their queries and needs.
Mark was also extremely gracious to answer all my questions about the UK music culture, it's history and how it got it's wind and success (university culture, import and export industries that helped spread the music) to become a 4 billion dollar industry it is today and the challenges they currently face : Music venues closing down due to noise/residential complaints and rising rental and operational costs which led to him recently setting up the Music Venue Trust (https://www.facebook.com/musicvenuetrust) to save live venues to ensure that there is a healthy amount of venues to provide touring circuit dates for emerging artists so that the UK can continue to churn out the next Coldplay, Oasis and the like who cut their teeth by playing close to 40 dates over the country to build their craft and live shows.
Lastyly, Rhythmix has a fantastic induction program as they get many volunteers applying to help so I was able to understand and get up to grips with the organisation structure within the 1st week.
For more info about Rhythmix and the fantastic work they do to help young people make music :
http://www.rhythmixmusic.org.uk 'Like' them on facebook : http://www.facebook.com/RhythmixMusicCharity and follow on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/rhythmixmusic
Moving Forward
What I look forward to over the next 2 weeks is learning and understanding the framework and various trusts, foundations, Government departments, lottery organisations, Local Authorities and other organisations that provide funding for organisations such as Rhythmix. I will also be getting directly involved with working with young people in challenging circumstances and inspire them to use music as a tool to build their resilience and confidence.
Rhythmix has also invited me to be their critical friend using this opportunity to ask difficult questions, reflect on my learning and critique how they are doing things so that we can work on reviewing that critique to turn it into action, advocacy and opportunity.
It's been a humbling and inspiring experience so far.