anam creative: (in)dustry
Download the PDF Version of the callout here.
About
(in)dustry is a nine-month remote project supporting five young creatives aged 18-25 (or up to 30 if d/Deaf, neurodivergent or Disabled) from underrepresented backgrounds, living outside Scotland’s central belt (Glasgow & Edinburgh).
This project will support participants to develop sustainable businesses and freelance practices within the music industries. This can include, but is not limited to, areas such as design, videography, photography, music management, promotion, events, booking, running a record label, live sound, and not-for-profit work.
Participants will receive:
A £2,000 bursary to support them.
Mentorship from industry professionals
Support from the anam creative team
Regular group reflection sessions supporting collaboration, skill-sharing and community building
Through this participants will gain real-world insight into the processes of running a creative business or sustaining freelance work in the music industries.
This is for:
Young people who have pre-existing ideas or some experience (doesn't have to be extensive) in behind the scenes music industry roles and will benefit from our support.
Musicians who are keen to develop side hustles to support their music careers.
Creatives who love music and want to work within the sector.
Individuals who actively want to collaborate and work with others.
This project is anchored in collaboration, led through regular meet-ups where the five selected participants will support each other's development, creating a Scotland wide collective and support network.
This initiative responds directly to the lack of accessible and inclusive routes into behind-the-scenes music industry roles. Many talented young people face barriers such as financial insecurity, limited networks, and a lack of visible role models. This programme offers a structured, supportive, and paid opportunity designed around the realities of how the music industries operate today.
Other commitments In partnership with our funders:
We are grateful to have been invited back for a second year of funding through Youth Music’s Industry Connect Grant.
As part of this project, participants will join The Industry Connect Coalition, a UK-wide collaborative initiative that brings together key players across the creative industries, driving long-term change. The Industry Connect Coalition has launched in response to key findings from Youth Music’s Industry Connect research. It aims to implement practical solutions that open up music and creative industry careers for underrepresented young people.
The Coalition aims to break down barriers to entry in the music and wider creative industries, creating more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable career pathways for young people from underrepresented backgrounds.
We attended the Coalition events throughout 2025/26 and they were amazing so we are thrilled to be invited to stay part of this network.
Participants will be invited to attend the Coalition events throughout the project. Travel and accommodation will be supported and some meetings may take place online.
How the (in)dustry project will run:
Learning
Participants will receive support from anam creative’s core team and industry professionals working across the UK music sector. Our core team has experience in events, promotion, creative admin, fundraising, videography, photography and collaborative working within the third sector.
Participants will co-design their time on the project via collectively discussing their timelines, goals and schedules, inspiring peer support and accountability. They will be encouraged to collaborate, skill and resource share together where possible, strengthening their support networks.
Each participant will choose a mentor working in the creative industries who has a relevant practice to support them to develop their business and creative ideas. Mentoring sessions will be arranged flexibly throughout the year and shaped collaboratively to suit individual goals.
While we have a network of mentors we will suggest, we encourage participants to find practitioners who they want to work with. anam will support this where possible, depending on the mentors availability and willingness.
Sessions and discussions will explore:
Sustainable freelance practice
Building and maintaining professional networks
Funding and income generation
Business structures and administration
Tackling gatekeeping and industry barriers
Ethical and future-facing music industry models
Non-hierarchical working and collaboration
Grassroots culture for positive change
All resources developed through the project will be shared publicly and freely on the anam creative website, reducing gatekeeping and increasing access to knowledge.
Action
Participants will spend the central phase of the project developing and testing their ideas in real-world contexts.
With ongoing support from mentors and our core team, they will:
Develop and refine their business or freelance model
Build partnerships and professional networks
Apply for funding or commissions
Implement strategies to secure paid work
Test ideas through live projects or pilot activity
This list is not exhaustive and the project will be led by the participants. Our aim is to see participants leave the project feeling confident to continue their work.
Regular check-ins and peer reflection sessions will provide space to overcome challenges, refine plans, and share progress.
Reflection
Monthly two-hour group reflection sessions will be facilitated by anam’s core team. These sessions will provide space for:
Catching up
Collaborative learning and skill sharing
Creating goals
Tracking progress
Feedback and discussion
Collective problem-solving
In the final stages, reflection will focus on reviewing progress, preparing next steps, and developing resources for our website to share learning with others in our community.
Exact dates for the reflection sessions will be shared with successful applicants.
Structure and Timeline
Development and Planning (July-September)
Participants meet one another and are introduced to the project’s core values and expectations.
Core team mentors are assigned, and participants collaboratively plan timelines and define clear goals.
Industry mentors are selected with support from the core team, and mentoring relationships begin.
The first group reflection sessions take place, building a sense of cohort and shared purpose.
Action (October-December)
Participants focus on delivering their goals through autonomous working, supported by regular mentor sessions and group reflection.
This extended period allows participants to test ideas in real-world contexts, respond to challenges, and build confidence navigating freelance environments.
Future Planning (January-March)
Participants evaluate their development, gather key learnings, and prepare for progression beyond the programme.
This may include:
Fundraising support
Securing freelance contracts
Formalising business structures
Developing public-facing resources
Bursary
The £2,000 bursary will be paid in installments over the course of the project. An additional access bursary is available to support the purchase of technology required for online participation.
Eligibility
This opportunity is open to people who:
Are aged 18-25 (or up to 30 if d/Deaf, neurodivergent or Disabled)
Live outside Scotland’s central belt (Glasgow & Edinburgh)
Identify as underrepresented in the music industries
Are interested in developing a behind-the-scenes career in music
Are not in full time education
We particularly encourage applications from people who are:
Women
Black, Asian or from other racialised communities
Disabled and/or neurodivergent
From low-income or working-class backgrounds
Trans and/or non-binary
Non-graduates
Based in rural areas
We bring together many different life experiences and personalities in our projects and expect mutual understanding, patience and care from all participants. We believe that bringing together identities is fundamental to cultivating positive change.
You do not need extensive professional experience in the music industries - only curiosity, commitment, and a desire to build a sustainable practice.
How to Apply
You can apply in written, audio, or video format. If sending video or audio, please use unlisted YouTube or SoundCloud links, making sure that we have access.
If applying in writing please send your application as an attached PDF, not in the body of the email.
Your application should answer the following questions (Approx. one side of A4 or 3 minutes audio/video - this is only a guideline - please don’t worry if your response is slightly shorter or longer!):
What excites you about this project? (Approx 150 words)
What kind of freelance or business practice would you like to develop? (Keep simple, just tell us what this is!) (Approx 100 words)
What would you like to learn? (Approx 100 words)
How would you contribute to a peer learning cohort? (Approx 150 words)
Anything else you’d like to share?
Details for one referee. This could include an employer, collaborator, lecturer etc.
You must confirm that you:
Are aged 18-25 (or up to 30 if d/Deaf, neurodivergent or Disabled)
Live outside Scotland’s central belt
Are not in full time education
Are available to attend interviews on the week beginning 22nd of June.
We are not interested in formal language, we just want to understand who you are and why you would like to be involved. Using AI as a tool to help you write your application is totally fine but remember that we want to hear your voice!
Send applications to ben@anamcreative.com with the subject: (in)dustry application.
If you have any questions at all about the application process please do not hesitate to get in touch via ben@anamcreative.com.
The deadline to apply is 03/06/26.
What Happens Next
If you are shortlisted, we will contact you for a short informal interview. This is to get to know you a bit and we’ll send questions in advance.
We look forward to hearing from you!