Image Credit: Sophia Stefelle
Speak Out is a new project from Trinity and BBC 1XTRA that offers young people (16yrs - 18yrs) the opportunity to take part in a free-to-access course to learn how to use arts to address social issues.
"Speak Out is a really exciting project that will connect the next generation with present diverse grassroots artists and activists and the wider creative industry" Esther Afikiruweh, Speak Out Producer
Launching in September, the project will invite leading industry creatives to deliver master-classes and workshops that will give young people artistic tools to tackle subjects that matter to them and develop solutions to issues they and their local communities face.
In partnership with organisations including Noods Levels, as well as prominent Black artists and activists, young people will have the opportunity to explore different creative tools including poetry, design, audio and film through workshops and masterclasses.
Alongside this young people will be able to help shape Speak Out, including co-creating elements of the project and its visual identity.
Throughout the programme, there will be an opportunity for participants to connect with creative industry professionals through artistic skills-based sessions as well as interactive workshops and external trips exploring the future of social action.
The project will culminate with Noods Levels collaborating with young people to create platforms for showcasing the content, stories and artistic ideas created throughout the project. Young people will have an opportunity to connect with broadcast media, film-makers and other professionals to kick-start their next steps as future change makers.
How to get involved:
As funded by BBC 1XTRA, we welcome attendees of Black heritage.
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Next Gen Sounds is a new open-access music education session for young people aged 14-25 that offers the chance to gain knowledge and skills from expert tutors in Trinity’s fully-equipped rehearsal room and production studios.
The sessions will be student-led, meaning that young people will be able to shape the programme to suit their interests and ambitions; whether that be learning to play instruments, music production, performing live, or anything in-between.
Trinity’s in-house music tutors, Fern and Pete, will also be on-hand to offer support and guidance to students during the sessions. Students will learn together as a group, offering a chance to work collaboratively and meet other young people.
Next-Gen Sounds is free to-access and is part of Trinity’s ongoing commitment to offering music education to young people that may not otherwise have access to music equipment. There will be free food at the end of each session, provided by Pret a Manger, as well as any travel costs covered (to and from the Trinity Centre) to ensure that the course is accessible to everyone.
The course starts on 9 Feb 2023 with an introductory session, allowing participants to meet the tutors and other students, to take a look at the space and discuss what musical skill students may want to explore.
To find out more about taking part in Next-Gen Sounds, click here.
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Students from local secondary taking part in an Industry Insights session
We have joined forces with leading youth providers Creative Youth Network (CYN), Aspiration Creation Elevation (ACE) and Basement Studios to offer the opportunity for over 2.5k young people to access free music-making provision. The project is supported by Youth Music using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
During the next 18 months, young people from Bristol and South Gloucestershire will have the chance to explore their musical talent and pursue careers in the music industry. Each organisation in the partnership are working closely with communities within Bristol and South Gloucestershire to ensure that there will be a variety of programmes to suit the interests of those taking part.
Across the project, Youth workers and mentors from across the partnership will work together with young people, helping individuals to plan out their personal journey to making music, building creative confidence and nurturing their ambition. Activity will focus on three key areas: building confidence, upskilling, and industry experience and insight and will include developing a 'youth voice' where young people will have the opportunity to be co-designers of the programmes.
As part of the project Trinity is hosting open access music sessions alongside Music Masterclasses where young people are able to meet and learn from professionals as well as network with other emerging musicians
Click here to find out more about the project or sign up to our mailing list to keep up-to-date about activities for young people (up to 25yrs).
]]>Over the summer we joined forces with Travelling Light to shine a light on how, with the support of the Coutts Foundation, we are both working to create opportunities for some of the youngest members of our communities to take part in creativity and begin their creative journey.
“Its good to have this so close. Have been walking past for ages and I didn’t know they could come in. Would really like to come again because we don’t have anywhere to play outside as we live in a flat” Feedback from the family garden sessions
Travelling Light Theatre Company are based in Barton Hill - just up the road from where Trinity is based. They create theatre for children and families, run a youth theatre and programme free events and activities.
Their work, like ours, is embedded in local communities and they, like us, are committed to creating opportunities for children and families/carers to take part in culture, to play and celebrate together.
At Trinity this includes weekly Forest School sessions for children aged 12 and under and Family Sessions throughout the school holidays. The sessions aim to support children to develop or build upon their skills. In 2021/22, out of the 357 children who took part in Forest School activity, 97% showed increased confidence.
We also work in partnership with organisations to co-create a programme that responds to need. For example, the Creative Play Sessions - delivered with East Bristol Children's Centres - supports families with young children to connect through art. Read more about this project here.
If you are a resident of Barton Hill, Lawrence Hill, Newton or the Dings and would like to find out more about taking part in family arts activities you can sign up to Trinity's mailing list here and Travelling Light's mailing list here.
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This month, Trinity have invited lighting and sound specialists NSL to give an introduction to career paths in the live events industry, what types of jobs are available and what it's like to work in events, followed by Q&A and a hands-on demo of some live lighting equipment.
Although there is no charge to attend and no tickets are required, we do ask that you sign up for attendance tracking purposes.
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This month, Trinity have invited Bristol-based emerging producer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist t l k, joined by treasured live collaborators James Storm Otieno and Liam Twohig to deliver November's Music Masterclass. The group unravel their pathways to early careers in music, share their practice of translating t l k's recorded music from Ableton to the live stage, and reflect on their learnings as artists within an ever evolving music industry. They will also share the importance of improvisation to the music they play, holding a group workshop on listening and inviting participants to play together as a unit.
Although there is no charge to attend and no tickets are required, we do ask that you sign up for attendance tracking purposes.
]]>Movema perform on the Trinity curated Bristol Dances stage at Bristol Harbour Festival
We have partnered with award-winning dance charity Movema to deliver a programme of work with local schools and community groups.
The programme, made possible with support from the Coutts foundation, launches in Autumn 2022. Activities are planned throughout 2023 and will focus on children, young people and communities whose opportunity to take part in the arts is limited by background or circumstance.
“Dance is a powerful tool for communicating feelings and messages individually and collectively. Movema will explore dance styles and approaches that evolve from people standing up, pushing back and finding a physical voice in response to inequality and oppression”
Penny Caffrey, Director of Movema
Movema will work with schools local to Trinity (including Hannah More Primary and St Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Primary) and a neighbourhood in Trinity’s immediate catchment.
The first schools-based project – ‘Dances of Resistance’ is inspired by Trinity’s Heritage Lottery project, Art of Resistance. Through a series of dance sessions the company will use their engaging learning tool ‘World In a Box’ –introducing children to places, people, festivals and cultures from around the world, helping to develop a greater understanding of the wonderfully diverse society we live in.
Children taking part in the school workshops will then be invited to weekly dance sessions at Trinity, hosted by Movema. Here they will take part in dance routines, make costumes and build connections - culminating in a Carnival Celebration.
The partnership responds to pledges we made following an in-depth community consultation in 2021 and aims to provide a continued offer of engagement – enabling and building connectivity with creativity and culture.
]]>Creative Community Play - Photo Credit: Sam Prosser
Creative Community Play was a 12-week pilot project that targeted parents and carers of babies and toddlers born in, or significantly impacted by, the isolation caused by Lockdown. The project was created in partnership between Trinity, creativeShift and Central Bristol Children’s Centres as part of a city-wide initiative connecting partners working in arts and health.
“I've had a chance to really connect with my child in a way that I don’t think I really had before and I wanted to before he went to school […] I feel a lot more connected to him and more calm”. Participant Feedback
Central Bristol Children’s Centre identified nine families with children aged from four months to four years who would benefit from taking part. All participants lived in Trinity’s locality with many families living in high-rise flats with little or no access to green spaces.
CreativeShift director, visual artist Barbara Disney and puppeteer and artist Araceli Cabrera Caceres looked at how to use natural objects, crafts and outdoor spaces to support connections between parent/career and children as well as with one another.
As part of the pilot participants watched a puppet show performed by Araceli Cabrera Caceres. For many this was their first experience of live performance.
Participants fed back that this has been the first time they had “really got to know [their] child” and others commented how the sessions really helped improve their wellbeing through connected with each other “there’s something very special about integrating that positive experience from my wellbeing with a positive experience for his wellbeing. I feel like that has been really holistic and I really appreciate that”.
During the sessions community health workers were also on hand to offer guidance for families or to signpost to other services.
Due to the success of the pilot project, we have secured funding for further sessions. These will be running from until March 2023. Referrals to Creative Community Play are via Central Bristol Children’s Centres. If you would like to find out how to take part please visit their website.
This project is part of Thriving Communities
]]>Trinity are hosting a new series of Music Masterclasses for young people aged 16 to 25 interested in learning more about performing and working in the music and events industries.
Trinity have invited top industry professionals from Bristol and beyond to come and share their knowledge and insights in a series of exclusive workshops and classes. This series will feature a diverse range of guests whose jobs include performing ,producing and mixing music, as well as assisting musicians in roles such as programming, label management, radio, and much more.
Music Masterclasses form part of Trinity’s ongoing commitment to providing vocational training for young people in Bristol who may otherwise experience barriers to accessing the arts and music industries.
This series will provide young people with industry advice ,guidance and practical learning, as well as opportunities to connect and collaborate with other young people in the city.
Click the title of the event that you'd like to attend to register your interest:
Batu + Saffron Records (10 Aug)
Bristol-based DJ, Producer and Record Label
Laurence Walker (14 Sep)
Bookings and Promotions at Lost Horizon
Young Echo (12 Oct)
Music collective based in Bristol
t l k (02 Nov)
Improvisation Workshop
NSL (23 Nov)
Lighting and Sound Specialists
Noods Radio (14 Dec)
St Pauls-based Radio Station
Do you know someone who would benefit from our Music Masterclass series? Send an email to fleurw@trinitybristol.org.uk to register your interest.
]]>Students from City Academy at Trinity
We are working in partnership with South Bristol Youth (SBY) to provide opportunities for KS4 students to experience insights into working in the creative sectors as part of their 'insight into apprenticeship' initiative.
Connecting with local comprehensive and community schools we have programmed experiences for students, who may be historically excluded from the arts, that aim to provide insights into the various careers available in the cultural sector.
"Dave and his creative team hosted a high energy, interactive and informative day ... providing a fascinating insight in the creative arts industry in all its many wild and wonderful forms." Mark Nixon, Project Coordinator, South Bristol Youth Consortium for Young People
Recently we hosted students from City Academy, a local school that is situated in Lawrence Hill, one of the most deprived wards in the city whose cohort of over 1000 students have higher-than-average EAL/SEND.
During the visit students were taken on a guided tour of Trinity, detailing aspects of the grade II* listed buildings historic and cultural significance, highlighting the impact Trinity has had on the local community and wider music and arts scene within the city over the years.
They also took part in a series of music workshops, including, DJ, drumming and live performance. Trinity’s Youth Music Activities Manager Dave then led a masterclass session on music events promotion and podcasting.
This exciting partnership will help young people to reach their potential in work and in life, by building the skills, knowledge and confidence to better understand the pathways to apprenticeships, higher education and suitable employment. We will be hosting more schools over the coming months as well as our free-to-access Masterclasses this summer for young people who are interested in working in the music industry.
]]>Forest School in Trinity's Community Garden
As part of our commitment to creating opportunities for children and families to connect with nature and learn through play we deliver regular free-to-access Forest School sessions in our Community Garden, funded by Children in Need.
“Thank you so much, we have loved coming here. We enjoy having a space to run around in as we do not have a garden at home. It is important for the children to have a space to run around in and spend time outside. They love digging and watering”. Parent of child attending Forest School
The sessions are aimed at children who attend local primary schools as well as families who are signposted through our partnerships with community organisations and outdoor play providers. The sessions provide a much-needed outdoor space for children, many of whom do not have access to outdoor spaces or gardens at home. So far 357 children, families and carers have taken part in the provision since Sep 2021.
Our work with children focuses on improving confidence and well-being through nature based-education. Children work in small groups, led by experienced facilitators, take part in activities such as campfire cooking, lighting fires and organic gardening.
Many children who come to the sessions may struggle to engage with mainstream education, due to the impact of Lockdown or an additional educational need. 97% of the children who have attended Forest School have shown increased confidence in outdoor spaces and many have shown significant progress in their confidence and team working skills. For example one child presented initially as disruptive and disengaged however, following regular attendance they became an active and engaged participant working successfully with peers.
Due to the success of the project we are able to extend Forest School sessions and will continue working with schools and partners to continue to offer this much-needed provision. This includes our free Summer Holiday provision.
]]>Young people from Making Tracks project who came along to chat with Dev from IDLES. Photo Lee Ramsay
Adam Devonshire (AKA Dev), bass player with Bristol based UK album chart topping post punk band IDLES, headed to Trinity to share his professional experience with emerging musicians on Trinity's music making project Making Tracks.
"It gave me some great insight into the industry and made me realise what I need to do next." Jasper, Trinity Making Tracks Participant
Dev spoke in great detail about the Idles ethos, song writing, musical inspiration, touring, branding and approach to digital streaming. His main advice to the young people who to 'hone your craft, write loads of songs - then scrap those songs and write better ones, play tons of gigs and build a strong local fan base'. He advised that once this has been achieved this then you can start thinking about moving outwards and attracting more industry attention.
Dev gave insight to Idles early days - playing tiny local bars to virtually no one to supporting the Foo Fighters, touring the world and playing the Park stage at Glastonbury Festival - something which had been a dream for the band right from the very start.
"I’ve had to sacrifice a lot to get to this point. The band has always come first. Even when no one seemed interested in us. We just kept on working hard, learning our craft and believing we could achieve and do what we love." Dev, IDLES
To finish off Dev took a quick fire round in which we learnt his favourite ice cream is mint choc chip, the first single he bought was, ‘Boom! Shake the Room’, by DJ Jazzy Jeff and that one of his favourite films is Shane Meadows bleak cult classic, ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’.
This exciting opportunity was co-created in direct response to feedback from a cohort of students involved in the Making Tracks Steering group. This group empowers young people within the project to have their voice amplified and opinions heard, providing them with autonomy and agency helping them to shape and design the Making Tracks’ programme.
About Making Tracks
Making Tracks is supported by Youth Music and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, as well as support from match funders Youth Sector Support Fund.
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Batu checks out the new equipment in the studio. Photo credit Batu
Trinity are pleased to be welcome First Light Studio as new residents. Founded by Bristol based DJ and Producer Batu, who is best known for Timedance, his bass-driven and hypnotic dance nights that have been a key player in the scene over the last seven years.
First Light Studio will take residency in Trinity's recording studio and will offer workshops and free studio hire to Bristol's music-making communities.
“So many people have helped me along the way and I've received a huge amount of support from the community around me. Privately renting a studio is an expense that is prohibitive for a lot of up and coming artists, and there should be more access for free.” Batu
With the support of Dr. Martens the studio at Trinity has undergone a make-over - providing an open and inclusive space for artists to develop their skills - removing financial barriers many face in accessing professional studios.
The studio is a stepping stone into the music industry allowing producers to create, refine and experiment with the pro-level kit they need to enhance their ideas into fully fledged professional productions.
The investment by First Light Studio and Dr. Martens will mean that young people who access our music-making programme, Making Tracks, will also have access to the new equipment.
First Light Studio is open Mondays and Fridays - click here for more info and to book the studio.
]]>Gh0$t took part in a vocal looping workshop with performer and musician Keisha Thompson. Photo KoLAB Studios / Khali Ackford
Making Tracks is a life-changing music making project, delivered by Trinity and partners ACE and Basement Studios. The project supports young people to take their next steps in education or work through accessing music provision.
Gh0$t, aka Jack, joined Making Tracks when he was 23 - finding out about the programme through a suggestion by Access Creative College. The college have worked with Trinity for a number of years, often referring students who may benefit from an alternative education setting.
“Jack’s journey has had its challenges, but his passion for music and the support Trinity provided throughout this time has helped to keep him focussed and motivated. Jack has showed a consistent level of dedication and has seen the confidence in his own abilities and talent develop exponentially.” Dave Thomas, Youth Activities Manager
All young people who take part in Making Tracks have individual learning plan. This is created through conversations with students, highlighting what they may want to achieve and input from tutors, identifying key areas of development.
Jack showed an interest in developing his skills in writing original lyrics, rap and learning more about recording his own songs. He developed his music skills in regular 1-2-1 sessions and attended workshops and opportunities offered throughout the programme. This included workshops with touring artists Keisha Thompson, Making Tracks Summer Music Sessions, Q&A sessions with industry professionals and music events. Gh0$t also was active in promoting his own music made during his sessions on social media.
The final part of Jacks development was the opportunity to work as a youth mentor on an Anti-Knife Crime project. Organised by Avon and Somerset Police and delivered in partnership with local schools, Jack supported students to create a soundtrack for an animation. Jack was completely dedicated to the process taking part not only as lyric writer and performing artist but also as a consultant, offering musical advice to the students in the project.
“My main motivation … stems from my past. It actually drove me to write and work on this project because I felt I could relate to what these young people go through on a daily basis, but I also wanted to portray the message that you can still make a difference and become something that no one believed you could be.” Gh0$t
Since completing the programme, Jack is working on building his youth work CV and accessing further courses and youth work qualifications - proving his commitment to continue his professional journey.
Making Tracks is supported by Youth Music and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, as well as support from match funders Youth Sector Support Fund.
Classes run every Wednesday and are open for all levels of experiences- anyone can attended and join at anytime.
Classes teach dance development, build confidence and improve social skills. We have a new routine every week so students do not feel left behind.
Further information
You will have four full time main teachers:
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