Creative Associate Programme 2026-27
The Creative Associate programme is a bespoke training and development opportunity for two individual musicians enabling them to develop their practice and explore new work, helping us to achieve our wider mission to enable ‘a classical music offer that is inclusive, engaging and relevant to 21st century audiences’.
The programme is designed not as an initial or introductory opportunity but as a second step for musicians who are already known to us, either through our Open Call events, training programmes or producing work.
The 9-month programmme will run from October 2026 – June 2027 and include:
A bespoke programme of mentoring and coaching from experienced producers and directors
A £2,000 bursary for the development of new work (can be spent on individual research and development time, or commissioning other musicians/artists)
More Information
Developing Our Future Workforce – an overview of our Workforce Development approach
At MishMash Productions, we want to see a musicians’ workforce that is increasingly reflective of our audiences and the communities we work in. We want children to see musicians from all walks of life, races, and backgrounds so that they no longer feel like they don’t belong or that classical music is not for them.
As an organisation committed to championing access, diversity, and inclusion in classical music, we are especially focused on creating opportunities for musicians currently underrepresented in our sector, including:
- Musicians from the global majority
- D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent musicians
- Trans and non-binary musicians
- Musicians from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Through the development and rollout of paid professional development pathways for early and mid-career musicians, we are taking steps in the right direction. And we’re learning along the way, too.
From participating in a MishMash professional development opportunity, musicians build the unique skills needed to deliver high-quality, engaging and enjoyable music activities for children and young people, opening up new career paths, networks and opportunities.
“I now know that there are opportunities for musicians that are away from the standard recital/orchestral work. It has made me more confident in going for opportunities and has me thinking about trying to create my own projects.” Feedback from Insight participant, 2024.
By providing a safe and supportive environment, musicians find the space to build their confidence as a performer and creative, learning from experienced industry experts and each other, developing new ideas and discovering new sources of inspiration.
“This has been one of the most restorative things I’ve done for a while … this project has massively boosted my confidence. Confidence in my playing, confidence in myself (as a whole person), confidence in my creative ideas, my ability to work collaboratively, my ability to communicate, the list goes on!” Feedback from Insight participant, 2024.
Where we can, we want to provide MishMash professional development as a paid opportunity for musicians. By removing the barriers of course fees and the potential of missing out on paid work, we are truly opening the door to those who may, in other circumstances, be excluded.
In our 2024 residential training cohort 90% of participants were from currently underrepresented groups. We are identifying effective ways of supporting emerging musicians in an inclusive environment where they can flourish. We are enabling career progression and highlighting approaches with proven impact that can be adopted by the wider sector. For MishMash this has resulted in a workforce where 53% (in 2026) identify as coming from a group currently underrepresented in the sector.
“When you spoke about representation, that really meant something to me. You mentioned that the kids would be happy to see representation in the workshop leaders, but I felt so happy seeing representation in the audience!” Feedback from Insight participant, 2024.
Other Training and Workforce Development Projects:
- In February 2026 we delivered a training project with 14 musicians from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire culminating in the presentation of a new performance to local primary school children.
- In November 2025 we delivered an introductory workshop for students at the Royal Academy of Music and are delighted to have been invited back in 2026.
- National Youth Orchestra Residency – in August 2025 we delivered a residency for young musicians from the National Youth Orchestra Inspire Programme which culminated in a series of performances at Youth Centres across the North West.
- In addition to making and touring our own productions, over the past six years, we have worked with City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia Viva, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Gildas String Quartet, Villiers String Quartet, BBC Concert Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra, Music Hubs of the East Midlands, the Royal Academy of Music, and Scottish Ensemble, sharing our expertise to develop new work, train musicians and share best practice.
- Connect Workshop – a day-long workshop on creating theatre for young audiences tailored specifically for classical musicians, led by Chloe Stephens, Artistic Director of Page One Theatre and Head of Drama at Morley College London.
- Great Little Orchestra Project – July 2024 and July 2025 in partnership with the Music Education Hubs of the East Midlands and the Uprising project and with funding from Arts Council England Projects Grants this project saw young musicians aged 16 – 18 from across the East Midlands take part in training and development before delivering live music sessions at Oak Field SEND school in Nottingham.
- In March 2025 we held an intensive development project for five string players to explore approaches to presenting music for young audiences. Two of the participants have since been invited to work with us on a new touring project for schools. This was followed by a similar opportunity for woodwind players in October 2025.
- Our Open Call event held in January 2025 attracted over 20 early and mid-career musicians to learn more about our work and our approach.
- In 2023 and 2024 we ran our MishMash Ensemble programme as a progression route for early career musicians. More information can be found here.
- Insight Training Project – January 2024 (with funding from Youth Music) targeting early career musicians from currently under-represented groups
- Accel. Training Project – January 2023 targeting early career musicians from currently under-represented groups
- Musicians Training Projects in July 2022 and January 2021
We are keen to develop new partnerships and collaborations, whether that’s with co-producers or conservatoires and music schools. Whether you’re a musician interested in future programmes or want to start a conversation about how to bring MishMash expertise to your music students or recent graduates, please get in touch at liz@mishmashproductions.co.uk