A diverse and inclusive event
Inclusive on and off stage, with a diverse lineup and Pay It Forward access for all.
A diverse and inclusive event, on and off stage, from who plays to who's in the room.
Of Six Pillars
On stage, Oli Wilson curates for breadth: gender balance, underrepresented genres, underfunded scenes and grassroots talent, particularly from Greater Manchester. The first wave landed close to an even gender split, and inclusion stays the guiding principle across the whole programme.
Off stage, Pay It Forward pools member contributions, partner and sponsor allocations, and an add-on on full-price tickets to cover access for people who otherwise couldn't afford to attend. Every penny of it, 100%, goes to subsidised access, open to artists, early-career music and content professionals, and students.
See the Pay It Forward page for the full picture: how to apply, who's been supported, and how to partner with us.
The other pillars
- 01 Industry and Cultural change Building fairer ways for the music and content industries to work and grow. Read pillar
- 02 Co-operative governance What it means, who owns it, how to join. Read pillar
- 04 INSPIRE Year-round programme connecting young people aged 16 to 25 across Greater Manchester with the creative industries. Read pillar
- 05 Art is a Human Right Our creative-rights principle and the AI questions it raises. Read pillar
- 06 Greater Manchester Civic positioning, social-change heritage, Salford centenary tie. Read pillar