soundLINCS- Lincolnshire Music Development Agency - was formed to enhance, enable, and encourage music making throughout the County of Lincolnshire.

soundLINCS is a key strategic arts development client for Lincolnshire County Council and Arts Council England (East Midlands).

soundLINCS works in every music style and with all members of the community. It delivers a large and mixed programme of musical activities, usually within participatory music workshops. Groups can be of any size or constitution, and of any musical ability or interest. It works with both open (drop-in) and closed (signing-up) groups.

soundLINCS usually works on a project basis by delivering bespoke activities for a community group or by developing programmes of work with a partner organisation.

soundLINCS works closely with the County, City, District and Borough Councils of Lincolnshire. It works collaboratively with the 4 other organisations that comprise the unique Arts Agency infrastructure of Lincolnshire; Artlink East, Cinelincs, Lincolnshire Dance, Transition Media Arts. It also contributes to regional and national policy making bodies that seek to develop the sustainability and importance of music making within peoples lives.

soundLINCS has a musical instrument and equipment resource that includes:

• Large and small drums
• Hand percussion
• Samba instruments
• Acoustic drum kit
• Instrument amplifiers
• Vocal P.A. system
• Guitars
• Keyboards
• DJ Equipment
• Electronic Drum Kit
• Junk/Found instruments
• Producers equipment including Apple Mac iBook’s

When the equipment is not being used on a project it is available for hire by community groups and organisations.

soundLINCS organises projects in all musical styles. For example:

• Electronic and Technology
• Instrument Making
• Junk Percussion
• Musical Theatre
• Orchestral
• Rock, Pop and Jazz
• Samba
• Vocal

soundLINCS collaborates with artists and performers from all disciplines. For example:

• Dance
• Theatre
• Video
• Visual Arts

• Arts Centres
• Local Festivals
• Public spaces
• Schools, Colleges and Universities
• Social and Health Settings
• Theatres
• Youth Centres

soundLINCS can also offer help, advice, information and ideas if:

• you are trying to attract funding for a project
• you are staging a musical event
• you are looking for a music facilitator
• you are interested in becoming a music facilitator.

soundLINCS is a Not-For-Profit organisation, Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered Charity: No.1086483

In 1995 Lincolnshire County Council in partnership with the Eastern Arts Board created a new post of Music Development Worker for Lincolnshire. It was a 3 year project called A Wider Air and managed wholly by the Firebird Trust.

Due to the success of the project and following the publication of a consultation report, moves to make A Wider Air into an independent Not-For-Profit organisation began. On the 1st June 1998 the current Director Nikki-Kate Heyes was appointed and the project was transformed into a Company Limited by Guarantee and renamed soundLINCS. The company joined the flourishing Arts Agency infrastructure of Lincolnshire.

Initially working out of an office at home with a single worker/practitioner, the company succeeded in securing office accommodation in Lincoln during the millennium year of 2000. soundLINCS now supports a staff team of 11 core office staff, as well as over 70 Music Facilitators. It also supports part time posts with specific project responsibilities. A detailed list of all workers can be found in the section soundLINCS Staff.

To read more about soundLINCS over the past ten years, click here to download our Impact Study, soundIMPACT. Alternatively, if you would like a hard copy, please contact us on 01522 510073 or email info@soundlincs.org

"soundLINCS’ mission is to be the foremost music development agency in the East Midlands, working in partnership with local, regional and national agencies to provide and develop high quality, creative and innovative music making opportunities which acknowledge the unique needs and reflect the individual circumstances of the diverse communities and organizations with whom we work."

Strategic Aims and Objectives :

Objectives:

• Deliver open door workshops linked to longer-term projects, with priority being given to collaborative work with other groups and organizations.
• Provide quality-training opportunities through both direct facilitation and advocacy.
• Disseminate accessible information throughout the community and provide specialist information on demand as appropriate.

Aim 2: To assist in the development of audiences through advocacy and the provision of information.

Objectives:

• Collaborate with other organizations to maximize opportunities for audience development.
• Undertake advocacy work on behalf of established and embryonic groups within the community.
• Establish partnership work with specialist and non-specialist groups and organizations.

Aim 3: To contribute to the development of a vibrant and accessible music infrastructure within Lincolnshire.

Objectives:

• Promote examples of best practice in community music throughout the County.
• Respond positively to requests from the community, local authorities and organizations to develop new projects.
• Facilitate the introduction of new artists into the County, through workshops, information, training, collaboration, consultation and by direct invitation.

Aim 4: To promote a holistic view of musical activity in Lincolnshire, and where appropriate, in other areas.

Objectives:

• Establish working links with other agencies, local authorities and communities.
• Achieve linkages between initiatives throughout the County.
• Initiate multi-arts collaborations and funding proposals.
• Work with, where appropriate, other geographical areas.

Principles

Access
People, whatever their circumstances will receive the same opportunities to access the range of projects offered by soundLINCS. The organization will positively organize its provision of projects to ensure this access and remove barriers based on disability, race, belief, gender, age or special educational needs.

Breadth and Balance
The programme of projects offered will be sufficiently wide ranging and balanced to enable people to develop to the maximum their aptitudes, knowledge, understanding and skills.

• Provide opportunities for participation in music-based arts activity. This could be as a performer, but also as part of the production team, for example lighting, sound or stage management
• Provide opportunities for attending arts events
• Provide opportunities to work with a music facilitator to help lead musical activities (at any level)
• Provide opportunities to visit our workshops and music sessions
• Provide opportunities for volunteering or work experience
• Provide information about our organisation as an arts development organisation for research purposes

Voltage

VInvolved Project
Structured Volunteering Opportunities for Young People



soundLINCS has been selected as the regional partner for Youth Music to deliver Voltage. Voltage is a 3 year project (2008-2011) involving young people aged 16 – 25 and will:

• Deliver structured volunteering opportunities in music
• Actively involve young people in the shaping of their opportunities
• Encourage inclusiveness and diversity
• Demonstrate a positive effect on the community

• Children’s Services (Children and Young People’s Participation)
• Barnado’s (Lincolnshire Leaving Care Service)
• CfBT (Virtual School for Children in Public Care)
• Lincolnshire Youth Service
• CG Partnerships

Sing Up

• 14 Network, Training and Information events open to every teacher working within the 350 Primary Schools in Lincolnshire. The sessions were 1.5 hours long, arranged for after school times, and delivered in partnership with Lincolnshire Music Service.
• 7 Vocal Training Days which were open to Teachers, Music Facilitators, Singers, Play and Youth Workers and others adults working directly with children. These full day workshops were arranged at weekends and delivered in partnership with Lincolnshire Music Service.
• 10 half day workshops throughout the county with the inspirational Palestinian singer Reem Kelani.
• 1 Vocal Training Day with Susan Hollingworth; the celebrated Choir Leader, Singer and Trainer.

• How to get involved in free CPD and training events
• Details of where your regional and national singing networks are
• Information about the different types of singing activities already taking place where you live
• Details about new and exciting methods/models that are currently taking place across the country to get your children singing
• How to signup to the Schools Awards.

soundLINCS Board

soundLINCS Staff

First Notes Music Facilitators photographed at a celebration Event for sound52 at the Guildhall Arts Centre, Grantham on May 31 2003. Photo: Steve Hill

Ruth Allen-Williams Rebecca Beavis Heather Kay Benson Stuart Burr Allison Jackson Sara Chambers Hannah Clarke Tim Kitson Helen Knight Fiona Law Liz Lenten

Kirsty Mead Abi Moore Jill O'Sullivan Elizabeth Padgett Jane Parker Tracy Mason Powers Alison Rhodes Shelley Spink Ann Stott Helen Wallhead Helen Morfydd Young

• Request information about soundLINCS or it's projects
• Request information if you are interested in becoming a soundLINCS worker
• Feedback to use about your involvement in a soundLINCS project
• Feedback to us about soundLINCS website