In May 2021, Coventry became the UK City of Culture, delivering a 365-day, city-wide programme of world class arts and cultural activity. Their flagship Music Programme celebrates Coventry’s musical heritage, from Britten’s War Requiem to the Dr Who theme. While showcasing local talent old and new and raising Coventry’s music profile both nationally and internationally, the programme will strengthen the sector’s networks, education, businesses, and musicians.
The programme includes high-profile commissions, festivals and considered programming to capture and tell the story of Coventry as a music city. The programme explores how Coventry’s identity has always been expressed via its music, a city whose sound embodies its spirit of innovation, activism and multiculturalism.
The Radcliffe Trust’s funding is supporting the resilience and sustainability of Coventry’s music sector during these challenging times, specifically through the establishment of a new city-wide Coventry Music Steering Group. It is also contributing towards commissioning and performance from Coventry-based musicians and composers, providing opportunities for artists to sustain their practice throughout the crisis, and providing a platform to reach national audiences. The music programme will also allow them to test and set the blueprint for new models for music performance.
Credit Jamie Gray Photography (above)