INFORMATION TO APPLICANTS

About Music Centre:

Oh Yeah is ’s dedicated music hub - a resource for music makers and also for the business of music. It was constituted in 2007 in the belief that music is a valuable agent in , a catalyst that changes lives for the better.

Our mission statement is ‘Open Doors To Music’. We combine the verve and resourcefulness of the with a programme of social value. We provide affordable rehearsal space, a live venue, a music exhibition, a café space, a recording studio, a song-writing room, office units and workshop spaces.

We are a charity and a social enterprise and our programmes focus on talent development, youth mentoring, community outreach, arts and older people, plus music industry incubation and music tourism. We deliver two key festivals, Sound of Belfast promoting all that is great about local music and Women’s Work celebrating women in music. We also host the annual NI Music Prize for best album, and every year we present a celebrated and long-standing act with the Oh Yeah Legend Award.

The Oh Yeah venue with a capacity of 300 has been the beating heart of the hub for 10 years. The open day in May 2007 featured performances from co-founder Gary Lightbody who brought friends , Guy Garvey and many other supportive musicians to the stage for the evening. Since then Oh Yeah has welcomed over 200,00 visitors and more than 5,000 musicians.

The core Oh yeah team consists of 8 staff: Charlotte Dryden – Chief Executive Damien McAdams – Operations Director Sian O Neill – Youth Engagement Manager Paul Kane – Outreach Development Officer Charlene Hegarty – Talent Development and Projects Coordinator Lisa Schofield – Finance Assistant Ryan O Neill – Venue and Rehearsal Rooms Coordinator Sean Rickard – Venue Assistant.

Oh Yeah – Vision:

‘The belief is that music is one of the great resources in Northern Ireland, a catalytic agent that changes lives for the better’

Oh Yeah is a centre that creates music, captures, shares and applies knowledge, building capacity in Northern Ireland’s music sector. Oh Yeah creates resonant community projects and outreach, working with disadvantaged young people as well as older people. Oh Yeah is also committed to telling the remarkable story of NI music – to maintain the legacy and to grow the reputation.

Oh Yeah – Mission:

‘Open Doors To Music’

1 The Oh Yeah Centre is a place that is alive, busy and active in supporting people who share a love of music and want to listen, play, perform or produce music. This is Belfast’s dedicated music hub, a place of welcome for all ages, backgrounds and genres.

We work to promote excellent music, both for pleasure and business gain. This means creating, developing, nurturing and growing the music industry and the people within it. We have created a strong programme for outreach and community work.

Strategic Aims:

The Oh Yeah Centre has four main strategic aims. Under each of these four aims, a number of objectives have been formulated to ensure focus is maintained and the mission of Oh Yeah is upheld through all actions.

These aims are to: • Promote • Sustain • Include • Develop the NI Music sector, its talent, artists, industry, wider community, heritage, history and scene.

Key Programmes:

Key programmes designed to meet these aims and activities include: Talent Development Youth Outreach Family Events Showcasing Music and Older People The NI Music Prize and Oh Yeah Legend Award Sound of Belfast Festival Women’s Work Festival Providing dedicated venue space, rehearsal rooms, office units and workshops spaces.

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