This event took place on 19th and 20th November online and in-person at the South Bank Centre in association with the EFG London Jazz Festival.
This year’s conference, titled A New Perspective, will be a hybrid of in-person and online events, enabling us to connect UK-wide while also providing an exciting chance to come face-to-face for the first time in almost two years.
A New Perspective will bring the UK and Irish jazz sector together to focus on the most important issues and topics in jazz right now. With the insight of some excellent speakers and group discussions, we’ll be sharing fresh perspectives on climate change, the post-Covid music economy, international collaboration after Brexit, pathways into the sector and making the jazz community an inclusive and safe space for all.
This year’s conference will be true to form, with a programme consisting of inspiring speakers, panel talks, thought-provoking breakout rooms, as well as opportunities to catch up, reconnect and enjoy some fantastic music together.
Friday’s sessions will be delivered entirely online and in-person activity will take place at the South Bank Centre on Saturday. The Saturday programme will also be live-streamed to ensure that online attendees can continue to be involved with discussions remotely.
Conference timings
Friday: 10am-5.30pm
Saturday: Arrival from 10.30am for an 11am start. Finish at 3pm, followed by optional artist showcases at 3pm and 7.45pm.
Meet the speakers and facilitators
We’re thrilled that the Artistic Director of the Handelbeurs Arts Centre and current Europe Jazz Network President, Wim Wabbes will join us on Friday for a keynote speech about climate change and international collaboration.
On Saturday, the award-winning multi-instrumentalist, composer and educator Orphy Robinson will sit down with celebrated journalist and author Kevin Le Gendre to offer his perspective on the ever-changing shape of jazz in the UK.
Following the interview, we will be joined by Paulette Long OBE (former board director for both the Music Publishers Association and PRS for Music) who will chair an insightful panel discussion on practical approaches to improving inclusion in the jazz community.
Along with being a founding member of the Alliance for Diversity in Music & Media, Long is also the current deputy chair of the UK Music Diversity Task Force and co-chair of the BPI Equality and Justice Advisory Group.
She will be joined on the panel by representatives from the likes of Attitude is Everything, Black Lives In Music, the F List and Parents & Carers in Performing Arts.
In addition to Wim Wabbes’ keynote speech, the online programme on Friday will include a series of breakout rooms facilitated by industry experts, such as Music Venue Trust’s Rebecca Walker and international touring expert Ian Smith. These sessions will explore topics including post-Brexit touring, socio-economic diversity, post-Covid economic models and sustainability in the jazz sector.
We’re thrilled that The Hub‘s Julia Payne will join us to lead the closing session of the day; a collaborative discussion about the future of the jazz sector where you will have the opportunity to share your views on what the jazz community should be doing as we move forward.
The full schedule and programme of speakers and facilitators will be announced very soon. You can sign up for the JPN Newsletter to keep up to date!
Ros Rigby, leading on the Conference for the JPN Board, says: “We’ve all missed the opportunity to be with peers and share experiences during one of the most difficult periods that our sector has faced. This conference is all about coming back together and embracing the challenges ahead as we eagerly look towards the future.
Ticketing Information
JPN Members are eligible for free access to the event. Simply select the JPN Member option on Eventbrite to secure your space. Individual, volunteer and small organisation members can claim one free ticket and large organisation members are entitled to two free tickets. Any additional tickets can be purchased at the reduced prices of £30 for full access and £10 for online access.
For non-members, conference tickets are priced at £55 and include access to the full conference programme, lunch and tickets for the two Take Five Artist Showcases on Saturday afternoon and evening. Online-only tickets are available for £20.
This year, we’re offering reduced-cost tickets for under-30s and artists. Online-only tickets are available for £10 and full access tickets can be purchased for £30.
Lunch will be included on Saturday so if you have any dietary requirements please email membership@jazzpromotionnetwork.org.uk.
We’re committed to making our conferences accessible to all. If you have any access requirements please let us know via the email address above.
JPN board recruitment
JPN’s Annual General Meeting will open the conference on Friday 19th November, where we’ll also be holding this year’s board elections. If you are a JPN member, please join us at 10 am on Friday 19 November to vote and be part of the conversation.
For more information about the conference, please email comms@jazzpromotionnetwork.org.uk.