ELEVATE

ELEVATE is a development programme for Greater Manchester artists who are at a critical point in their progression, and are ready to take a meaningful step forward in their careers.

Rather than discovering talent from scratch or supporting artists who are fully established, this programme is about bridging the gap between emerging and professional practice.

We’re looking for artists who are building momentum and need the right support to progress further. Through tailored support, we’ll connect you with mentoring, new networks, recording and live performance opportunities, and more.

Supported by PPL Giving.

Who it’s for

Due to the nature of support on offer, this particular opportunity is only open to solo artists or duos for now.

To be eligible you should have:

A distinct and recognisable artistic identity
A clear sense of your sound, influences, and creative direction (even if it’s still evolving)
Music already released, or ready to be released
Some experience of performing live across different settings

You’ll also need to be 18+ and from/based in Greater Manchester.

You don’t need to be fully polished, but you should have a strong creative foundation that can be developed further. You might already be building momentum independently through self-releases, grassroots shows, or small-scale opportunities, but haven’t yet had access to consistent, structured support that connects your creativity to the wider industry.

If this sounds like you, we want to hear from you!

Got questions?

If you have questions before applying, get in touch at info@brightersound.com.

Selected artists will receive:
A pre-studio development bootcamp with A&R, producers, and songwriters to refine your material
3 days in the studio recording new music with a musical director, producer and session musicians
Rehearsal time and performance coaching to prepare for live shows
Paid performance opportunities including local gigs, national festivals and industry-facing events
A pre-release bootcamp covering campaign strategy, distribution, PPL and marketing
A £500 bursary to support your release, plus tailored one-to-one mentoring
These elements form the foundation of the programme, but your journey will be shaped around you. We’ll work collaboratively to identify what will have the most impact, and schedule activity to fit your availability.
This programme is free to take part in. We’ll also cover:
Travel and accommodation costs
Access costs - for things like disability support, translation or childcare
Bursaries are also available to people who:
Need to take unpaid leave from work to participate
Work in a freelance capacity and would need to turn down paid work to take part
Are in low-income employment
Receive Universal Credit, or another job-related allowance, as their main income
As Brighter Sound is not an educational establishment or an authorised provider of non-taxable bursaries, any bursary received is considered taxable income and should be reported to HMRC. If you’re registered as self-employed, this should be included in your records. If you’re not, you can find guidance on how to register - and how to report this income - via the HMRC website.
If you’re not eligible for a bursary, we’ll provide a £30 per day contribution towards your expenses.
Our application form will ask for some basic details, alongside a set of questions designed to help us understand where you are in your journey and where you want to go next:
How would you describe your artistic identity at this point in your career? What feels clearly defined, and what is still evolving?
What would you like to develop or change in your work over the next 12 months? How would you use the support offered through this programme to make that happen?
Thinking about your current momentum, what are you already doing to move your work forward? What feels like the next step towards operating at a more professional level?
What feels like the biggest barrier between where you are now and where you want to be? What steps are you taking to address it?
You can respond in writing, or by recording audio or video answers. For more guidance, have a read of our Top Tips for Applicants.
The application deadline is Tuesday 12 May, 11pm.
We encourage you to submit your application before the deadline but if you need a bit more time we can offer a short extension - please let us know by Monday 11 May.
You're welcome to apply with support from a personal assistant or carer. If there’s anything we can do to make the process more accessible, please get in touch.
Ready to apply? Head over to our Google Form.