2026 Archive
Footprints Artist Development Programme supports emerging artists across Sheffield and the wider Northern music scene, offering space, guidance and practical support to help artists develop their work and grow in confidence. The programme brings together workshops, mentoring, artist development sessions and live opportunities, giving participants the chance to learn from experienced artists and industry professionals while connecting with other creatives.
The programme is about giving artists the time and space to explore their ideas, ask questions and develop their practice at their own pace. Through a mix of group sessions and one-to-one mentoring, participants are supported to think about their music, performance, creative identity and next steps, while building relationships with other artists and the wider creative community.
Across the year, the programme included community-focused workshops hosted by acclaimed artists, Artist Development Days and an Artist Showcase, bringing the project, wider community and applicants together under one roof.
‘Amazing incredible wonderful informative transformational’
- Workshop attendee
‘‘It was a valuable day. Great insights, guidance and support’
- Artist development day feedback
‘‘A fantastic space to share info and be creative’
- Jam sessions feedback
‘‘Fantastic, informative, encouraging, moving, disruptive, supportive, full of compassion, care and deep respect and love for the Sheffield music scene, as well as more general brilliant tips about the more practical social media / promotion side of things.
It's left me feeling really fired up about pursuing the thing that I love and doing this alongside people I respect and value and who wants to uphold people coming up in the Sheffield music scene to build a sustainable, supportive environment that is so crucial to maintaing a cultural movement in a city in the North of England that isn't just about nostalgia, but experimentation and pushing the boundaries of what we can do and what people will enjoy.
It made me feel proud and grateful and emotional and moved at how much love and energy people have and are putting into the music scene in Sheffield, and much more equipped to develop my own artist practice and promoting myself’
- Development day attendee
Ruth Webber is a multi-instrumentalist, improviser, composer and collaborator. In her solo work, Ruth uses effects pedals with her tenor saxophone to weave together manipulated saxophone, vocals, percussion and audio sampling to create semi-improvised sound worlds that transport, disrupt, and evoke both the ephemeral and concrete experiences of being human.
Rhubarb Triangle Cult is the messy yet delicious outcome of four musicians who met through the Footprints improvisational jams. With influences from Shoegaze, Indie and Contemporary Jazz, their sound spans delicate, yearning melodies to undulating and propulsive rhythms that reflects their dynamic range and musicianship. The 4-piece comprising Alfie Russell on guitar and vocals, Patrick Tough on violin, Chester Heath Cook on bass and Hugo Lakin on drums enhance their unique instrumentation with as many pedals as chords. Having very contrasting musical tastes, this fruity blend of order and chaos is unforgettable.
Faye MacCalman is a performer, composer-songwriter and improviser on saxophone, clarinet, voice/electronics, based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Described as ‘one of the most envelope pushing jazz artists today’ (CrackMagazine), Faye’s solo music blends songs and improvisations with artpop ,avant-jazz, and electronica, inspired by under the surface emotions and exploratory storytelling.
Lou Barnell is an award-winning vocalist, sound and performance artist (Sound and Music's New Voices 2022, Winner of the 2021 Oram Awards, and Manchester Jazz Festival resident 2024/5.
Lou makes immersive multidisciplinary performance to communicate synaesthetic experiences within a ‘Live Dream.’
This morphic space translates as a squishy, visceral approach to music using constellations of materials, cyborg technology, voice and movement to make worlds.
Lou’s releases and airplay include Accidental Records, Doitthissen Records, The Lumen Lake, Linear Obsessional and Pearlhome records. BBC Radio 6, BBC 3, NTS Radio, Resonance FM and Soho Radio. Features include Electronic Sound Magazine, Louder Than War, The Quietus, The Guardian and Tentacular Magazine.
Nishla Smith is a Manchester-based singer, songwriter and storyteller, working across jazz, theatre and interdisciplinary performance. Her work sits at the cross-section of jazz, soul, pop, theatre and sound design.
As a Northern-based artist, Nishla has worked with organisations including Opera North, Manchester Collective, Manchester Jazz Festival and Jazz North, alongside developing her own music and performance work.
Thanks to everyone who made this programme a success.
More information and notes can be found here.