Sustain Saffron: Urgent Fundraiser

Less than 5% of the music tech industry is women, non-binary or trans people. Less than 1% of these are Black, Asian or ethnically diverse. We’re working hard to provide these people with a seat at the table and opportunities within the music industry. 

As a non-profit organisation, Saffron’s mission has been to advance gender equality in the music tech sector by creating safer spaces for marginalised people to learn, create and grow confidently through forward-thinking technological music creation, DJ and music industry experience.

Saffron – and its sister program Mix Nights – have been doing this work consistently for seven years in Bristol, London, Nottingham, Birmingham and globally online. Recently, however, we have found ourselves in a precarious position and urgently need your help to continue.

WHY WE NEED A FUNDRAISER  

As a mixed Black Caribbean-led organisation Saffron was eligible for a number of grants sparked by the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement. This allowed us to thrive in the short term, but these funds were largely one-off gestures rather than essential ongoing core support.

Over the past few months, a number of other crucial and expected arts grants and income sources for our work in 2023 have not materialised or been cut, and our primary industry donor has departed.

This has left us in a tight spot. We are now turning to our community to help get us through the next few months, whilst we embed our longer-term plans to make Saffron sustainable.                        

With seven years of work behind us, we are now asking for YOUR support.

WHY SAFFRON’S WORK IS IMPORTANT

As recently highlighted by Emily Eavis following criticism of Glastonbury’s all-white-male headliner lineup, there is an industry talent “pipeline problem”. A problem Saffron has actively been working to address from all angles.

In  2022 we provided music tech training and community infrastructure for over 1000 people around the world. This included widening accessibility: 

• 40% access courses, mentoring and memberships for free or discounted
• 46% are global majority (Black, Asian, mixed ethnicities)
• 37% have additional support needs, eg. Autism, physical or mental health issues

And generating real impact:

• 41% of Mix Nights course graduates have gone on to paid gig bookings
• 34% of radio course graduates have secured their own residency

There is a vital need for our work. To put in perspective: in 2022, we had 644 course applications for 200 places. 

This work needs to be recognised and supported to continue. If you want us to keep doing what we’re doing, then now is the time to pitch in.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

We know that money is tight for many of us right now, so we are asking for any support you can give, monetary or otherwise, to support us through this next phase of development.

No matter how small, a one-off or regular donation will go a long way towards fuelling our core work transforming the music tech industry from the ground up.
We also need as much help as we can possibly get with sharing this news, so we can spread the cost amongst as many people as possible.