Hopes city status will inspire young musicians

A city's recently awarded music status will encourage more young people to pursue a career in the industry, cultural leaders hope.

On Tuesday, Sunderland became only the second city in the UK to join the Music Cities Network, which also includes Sydney and Berlin.

Laura Brewis, from We Make Culture, said being part of the network would make more people aware of the city's music scene.

"I think it's going to make more young people want to be involved in music, whether that's as a musician, or whether it's putting on gigs, managing a venue, or being a promoter," she said.

"I think it's just going to be really exciting."

The Music Cities Network was established in 2016 and gives members access to collaborative opportunities, resources and advocacy.

Members include Aalborg, Aarhus, Bergen, Berlin, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Gothenburg, Groningen, Hamburg, Manchester, Reykjavik, Sydney, Valencia and Vilnius.

Graeme Hopper, who has been organising experimental music festival Boundaries in the city for the past four years, said the network could help the festival collaborate with international artists and increase opportunities.

"For me this announcement is incredibly exciting," he said.

"It can help Boundaries Festival grow in stature, attract global talent, and strengthen its cultural impact while keeping to the festival vision of supporting and celebrating experimental art and music in the Sunderland area."

We Make Culture runs the Young Musicians Project, which sees more than 90 young people, aged between 13 and 19, currently take part in weekly music groups.

It aims to help them develop musical skills and take the first steps towards gigging, recording and releasing their music.

Ms Brewis said Sunderland being recognised as a music city would increase the sector's visibility in the community.

"There are loads of young people in the city who maybe aren't familiar with the venues, the fact that there are musicians in the city who are making a career," she said.

"So I think it's really important for that - it can be an aspiration that people in Sunderland have."

Presenter Lauren Laverne, who is originally from Sunderland, called the news "wonderful".

"Huge congratulations, Sunderland Music City."

Ms Brewis added the status would boost the city's pride in its music.

"It's not just going to music project on a Thursday night at a local community centre - it's actually part of a bigger thing," she said.

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