Apply for Emerging: Our 23-24 Artist Development Project
We’re delighted to share details of our next artist development project, supporting Black women, trans and gender non-conforming music creators in South West England.

Beginning this December, Saffron will work with four Black music creators on a programme of artistic development. The project aims to provide each participant with tools, opportunities and support to develop their careers, building resilience and self-reliance as independent creatives.
This project is designed specifically to support Black producers and music makers based in Saffron’s home of South West England. The aim is to lay deeper foundations for better visibility, representation and financial benefit for Black music creators in our area. It is important for us as a company to use our platform to uplift the conversations around race within our city of Bristol and to use our resources to support Black artists, by offering an opportunity for creative reflection and to have their voices amplified.
“This project is really important to me, not just as a mixed-race woman in the South West, but thinking about it in relation to the wider music tech industry, as this project allows a space for us to breathe, to be creative and to be heard.”
– Laura Lewis-Paul, Saffron Founder & Creative Director
WHO IS THE PROGRAMME FOR?
You must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible to apply:
- You must be… A musical creative of some kind, such as a music producer, composer or instrumentalist.
- You must be… A woman, non-binary person, trans, intersex or gender non-conforming.
- You must be… Black or of Black heritage.*
- You must be… Age 18+. There is no maximum age limit
- You must be… Currently living in Bristol or anywhere in South West England
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAMME?
The project will run for approximately eight months and include the below components for each participant.
- An £800 development fee – funding for creation, recording, production costs
- Guidance towards self-releasing your own track
- 1-2-1 mentoring sessions with industry professionals
- 5-day residential artist’s retreat
- Monthly peer support sessions
- 1-year Saffron Members subscription
- Showcase event opportunity
- Opportunity to upskill at an IRL Saffron course in Bristol
HOW DO I APPLY?
Hit the button below to download our application park, which contains full details of the project, dates and instructions for how to apply.
Support for applicants with access requirements:
We understand that deadlines and form-filling can present challenges for some applicants. If you need any additional advice, or a video application option, then please contact hello@saffronmusic.co.uk
The deadline to apply is 6pm on 3rd November 2023
Saffron is part of the PRS Foundation’s Talent Development Partner Network and has been provided with funding to make this project happen. We are also very grateful for additional financial support from Viagogo which has allowed us to grow the project this year.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
* On the application form you will be asked to specify from one of the below options, based on harmonising ethnicity categories recommended by governments in the UK nations:
- Black/Black British – African
- Black/Black British – Caribbean
- Black/Black British – African and Caribbean
- Black/Black British – Other
- Mixed – Black Caribbean and White
- Mixed – Black African and White
- Mixed – Black and Asian
- Mixed – Black and Other
** You must be living in the South West now, or from at least October 2023 onwards for the duration of the programme. For this project, the South West incorporates Bristol & Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire.