Big Lottery Fund Backs Campaign to Showcase Youth Talent in Brum

Project Talent, which has received funding from the Big Lottery Fund, will create a variety of opportunities for musicians, dancers, designers and models through a combination of exciting platforms.

The programme kicks off when Aspire4u stages a networking event for aspiring performance artists at the Rainbow in Digbeth on January 26.

Panellists include music producer Baby J; Ammo, CEO of Punch Records; Tanya Anderson, CEO of Fierce Productionz dance academy; and Nate Sheridan, of Citizen Enterprises. Project Talent and Aspire4U director, Daniella Genas will also be on the panel, sharing her aspirations for Project Talent.

Daniella said: “My vision is to create a portal that nurtures talent in the West Midlands and enables the youth in the region to compete with London-based artists without having to leave their city. With the support of London agencies and local organisations, we will be able to provide countless opportunities in the areas of the arts, media and fashion.”

Daniella added: “Youth unemployment is on the rise and Project Talent is about providing practical support for young people who feel hopeless and need direction.

“Following the recent riots, it is important to engage with young people and provide them with alternatives to criminality.”

The project has also launched its new website, www.projecttalent.co.uk, as an online portal for talented youth in the Midlands to receive exposure. The website enables individuals to create online portfolios incorporating videos, audio and images. It is currently free to register and a valuable resource for young people who cannot afford the production of costly portfolios.

Over the next few months, Aspire4u will revamp the site to include new features such as job opportunities and video masterclasses, adding even more benefits to members. Project Talent will also be holding a major showcase on 2 June at Birmingham Town Hall, where they will be searching for the talent of 2012.

The event will see a variety of gifted youths compete to win a range of life-changing industry prizes, including an opportunity for aspiring models to walk at London Fashion Week. Participants will also have the chance to attend free workshops and master-classes in a range of disciplines, including vocal coaching, song writing, choreography, video production and more. 

Auditions for Talent 2012 will take place in March. The final part of Project Talent is the launch of Project Talent TV, an online digital station designed to act as a platform for young people in the Midlands who want to share their talent, be inspired, and find out what’s going on in their community.

During the coming months Aspire4u will be populating the station with music videos, interviews, event clips and spotlights on role models and local organisations. Local youth will be responsible for producing the content and will receive expert video production training.