Arddangosfa a Chynhadledd JPN 2025: Yfory yw’r Cwestiwn / JPN Showcase and Conference 2025: Tomorrow is the Question

Cardiff: Thursday 6 – Friday 7 November

Early bird tickets:  www.ticketsource.co.uk/jpn

Tickets for the 2025 JPN Conference are NOW ON SALE and for the first time we have introduced an EARLY BIRD RATE with substantial reductions, particularly for larger organisations not currently JPN members and for under-30’s. 

Co-hosted by neighbouring organisations with a worldwide reputation for jazz education – Cardiff University Music School and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, the 2025 JPN conference is the first ever to be held in Wales and will offer an opportunity to learn more about jazz developments across that country as well as to hear some great music from Welsh artists. Funding now confirmed from all four UK arts funding bodies (Arts Council England, Arts Council Wales, Creative Scotland and Arts Council Northern Ireland) also means that delegates will also enjoy showcase artists and speakers from across the UK.

With this year’s conference title taken from Ornette Colman’s third album – TOMORROW IS THE QUESTION – the 2025 JPN Conference focus will continue to look to the future seeking to address both current issues facing grassroots jazz promoters, artists and venues, and wider concerns linked to worldwide rapid technological developments providing both opportunities and challenges. 

JPN will also launch a year-long development scheme  at the event called ‘Routes into Jazz’ aimed at under-35 professionals keen to cultivate a career promoting and developing jazz; pilot schemes will be run in Scotland and England during 2025-2026. 

1:1 networking opportunities throughout the conference will enable those all-important connections with others attending, plus as a chance to meet funders from across the UK/Ireland and key figures from other music networks and industry organisations.

The showcase programme will feature some of the UK/Ireland’s most exciting new bands nominated by JPN members and other trusted partners and chosen by a 5-nation independent expert panel, ending with a premiere performance of Eos Gwyr-  a new collaboration by the acclaimed Welsh jazz pianist and composer Huw Warren and Welsh singer/violinist Angharad Jenkins.

Conference schedule

Thursday November 6 

Cardiff University: 

12:00 Arrival and lunch 

13:00 Conference Welcome 

13:30 Keynote Address 

14:15-15:15  Breakout Sessions 

15:30- 16:00 Showcase Performance

16:00-17:00 Breakout Sessions  and Networking/Speed Meetings

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama:

17:30-18:30- showcase performances in the Carne Foyer 1. Food also available.

19:15- 22:15  Showcase performances in Dora Stoutzker Hall.

Friday November 7 

Cardiff University: 

10:00 Meet the funders, sponsors and partners

11:00-12:15 Breakout Sessions 1

12:15-1:15 Lunch and showcase performance 

14:00-15:45  ‘Deep Dive’  Working Groups  on talent development, UK jazz worldwide and how grassroots jazz can be sustainable.

16:15-17:00 Conference Wind -up and plans for 2026

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

17:30-18:30- ‘Amser Jazztime’ in the Carne Foyer featuring jazz musicians from the college. Food also available. 

19:15- 22:15  Showcase performances in Dora Stoutzker Hall followed by a performance of a new collaboration between pianist/composer Huw Warren and singer/violinist Angharad Jenkins of Eos Gwyr-  the Gower Nightingale – exploring the songs and music of their native Gower and Swansea.

22:30 Conference Ends.

Further details of conference speakers and session titles will be available in early October but BOOK NOW to take advantage of the Early Bird rates.

HOTELS – information about nearby budget hotels within walking distance of the venues is available on the TicketSource site during the booking process – last stage.  It makes sense to book your accommodation now.

Book your ticket here: www.ticketsource.co.uk/jpn  (details also available in Welsh using the language box.).  BOOK NOW TO GAIN BIG DISCOUNTS (eg over 18% for individual musicians/freelancers).

DEADLINE FOR EARLY BIRD RATES IS MIDNIGHT ON WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 8. 

CONFERENCE BURSARIES- APPLICATION DEADLINE OCTOBER 8

With support confirmed from the four UK Arts Councils we are delighted to offer a limited number of bursaries for applicants from across the UK. Some of these will offer partial support for travel and accommodation costs and others will offer support for all costs. Priority will be given to new attenders and those under 35 interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the jazz industry as a possible source of employment (as artist, promoter, educator, manager, broadcaster etc). For the guidelines use THIS LINK and for the application form go HERE. A great opportunity to meet jazz activists from across the nations to discuss common issues and make new friends.  Deadline for applications 5 pm October 8