Permission to Play

Our Permission to Play project improved women and people of minority genders’ access to participatory music technology activities across Yorkshire, primarily by strengthening our existing network of YSWN-affiliated groups and supporting the founding of new ones.

We addressed structural inequalities by empowering the development of grassroots feminist sound collectives in Yorkshire, centring the voices of and experiences of a diverse range of women and people of marginalised genders. With funding support from Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s Arts Access and Participation Fund, we unlocked potential for women and people of minority genders across the North of England to grow their music technology skills and audio creativity through a range of activities and events, which included:

• Mentoring, supporting and establishing grassroots regional groups to reach new participants, collaborating on developing new artistic activities and learn from experienced artists and musicians.
• Mitigating against known barriers to women’s participation (such as caring responsibilities) and the Covid-19 pandemic by rolling out online networking and music technology skill-sharing opportunities.
• Further developing YSWN’s Associate scheme to become a support system for women working in the music industry through peer skills exchanges and networking opportunities.

Highlights of the regional group activities included a live workshop from turntablist NikNak, building DIY radios, an all-levels synth jam, building an 8-channel installation inspired by the Yorkshire coast and contributing field recordings to one of the musical sheep in Kirklees Year of Music’s HERD extravaganza.

During the course of Permission to Play we helped strengthen existing collectives with roots in Calderdale, Huddersfield and Sheffield, and supported the founding of new groups in Bradford, Derbyshire, Wakefield and the North-East.

At the conclusion of the project we created extra resources to support YSWN-affiliated groups with future development activities such as fundraising and organising workshops.

We also shared some of our findings in the mini-report Permission to Play: How feminist sound collectives can support women and people of minority genders’ participation in sound and music technology, which can be downloaded below.

Download Permission to Play factsheet here [opens PDF]