Come Play With Me colleagues Lily Sturt-Bolshaw (left) and Matilde Mirotti, both Leeds Conservatoire graduates. Photo credit throughout: Come Play With Me / Andrew Benge
Leeds Conservatoire and Come Play With Me have developed a new partnership with a focus on identifying collaboration opportunities that directly address the organisations’ shared commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
The conservatoire seeks to maximise the potential of its staff and students, be responsive to new ideas, and equip its students for life in a multicultural and diverse society. Come Play With Me specialises in supporting people from marginalised communities to further their careers in music, and won the Diversity In The Workplace award at the 2022 Music Week Women In Music Awards.
The organisations have a strong track record of working together, which resulted in a joint recognition of the potential benefits of a more structured, long-term partnership.
Tony Ereira, Director at Come Play With Me
Tony Ereira, Director at Come Play With Me, said, “We’ve been partnering with Leeds Conservatoire on a project-by-project basis for some time and so were really keen to see how we might develop that relationship into something stronger for the benefit of both organisations, the conservatoire’s students/alumni and of course the communities we work with regularly in Leeds and further afield.
“There are so many absurdly talented staff and students at the conservatoire and we know that we share very similar values, and a desire to see genuine equity of opportunities, so we’re excited to see how we can all play to our strengths and deliver more together.”
Lily Sturt-Bolshaw (left) and multi-disciplinary artist and music creative NikNak at Come Play With Me’s I Know A Place seminar
Leeds Conservatoire has already worked with Come Play With Me on music industry based projects, with several of its students and graduates getting involved with Come Play With Me, either through their music development work or through their inclusion work.
In addition, a showcase on International Women’s Day 2023 at the conservatoire included a talk from Come Play With Me colleagues Matilde Mirotti and Lily Sturt-Bolshaw, both Leeds Conservatoire graduates.
James Warrender, Employability and Enterprise Manager at Leeds Conservatoire, added, “It’s exciting to partner with a local organisation that has always been supportive of our students and graduates, particularly those endeavouring to create change, and develop skills and careers in spaces where they haven’t previously been represented. Their ability to upskill young creatives and build platforms with them is second to none.”
This partnership is built on a shared commitment to support diverse members of the communities not only within Leeds Conservatoire and Come Play With Me, but also the wider industry, to achieve equality and participate in inclusive activities.
