Urban Inclusion Community is engaged in a number of new initiatives in the creative, cultural and arts sectors in response to the current pandemic that has impacted the world and its economies. As part of a wider programme of support, Urban Inclusion Community has entered an exciting new partnership with Sound Diplomacy, leaders in the music economy industry.

 

With the current Covid-19 pandemic, affected countries around the world have suffered a blow to their economies, bar none. The cultural and creative industries have been decimated by what is now considered the ‘new normal’, a state of affairs which requires extra vigilant hygiene methods, the wearing of masks, social distancing, self-isolation and lockdowns, which has made it virtually impossible for the music industry to function. Live concerts, festivals and social music gatherings have been challenged in ways previously unheard of, artists have been left to wonder if they will ever again have a live platform on which to perform and industry chiefs, technicians, event organisers and musicians have been faced with finding new ways to meet and engage with their audiences, to work, produce and perform.

 

Urban Inclusion Community and Sound Diplomacy are exploring new ways to breathe life into the music industry and to find innovative ways and new channels through which they can transform the music industry and create a new environment in which live music can thrive.  

​

      “We want to rethink and reshape the role of

                music and culture in our cities, towns and places.”

​

As such, it is essential to create a public and civic discourse with all the agents of the music industry to identify and respond to the needs of this creative cluster and to recognize the value and role of music in terms of a nation’s mental health and well-being, its culture, as well as its contribution in terms of employment and the economic development of cities and nations. To do this we need to build the narrative of how covid-19 has impacted the industry and create a vision of the future in which music can again play a central role in our lives with considerations such as creating an environment for music production, the funding of artists and the funding of the industry as primary concerns.

 

Amongst a wealth of new initiatives, mainly focused on trying to accommodate the advent of remote audiences, minimal audience participation at events and social distancing between performers and audience participants, Urban Inclusion Community and Sound Diplomacy aim to develop rescue packages for the sector that will include access to finance and technical support for artists, creatives and MSMEs to support this ‘new normal’ for the music industry.

 

Stay informed by visiting our website for updates of the innovations we are championing, initially in Accra and Lagos, which will be expanded across West Africa.

​

For more information, see the Music Cities Resilience Handbook: https://www.sounddiplomacy.com/better-music-cities