This programme took place over seven months in 2017. It supported a group of 18-25 year olds to use the power of music, media, arts and technology to create a social action project in response to an issue they care about.
The programme also enabled the group to connect with leaders locally, nationally and internationally, build their self confidence, develop their musical skills and provide real experiences of leading.
The first phase of the programme included an Inspire Week in Bristol, meeting leaders and activists who are creating positive change, followed by a residential in Barcelona to explore their chosen issue in more detail and learn more about leadership at an international level.
The second phase took the form of weekly evening sessions, which the group could fit around their other commitments. During these sessions the group prepared their campaign, with support from visiting speakers and the KWMC team, ready for the launch in summer 2017.
The group agreed early on that street harassment and gender inequality were issues they wanted to tackle. Through their research they discovered a 2015 study that revealed 90% of British women had reported their first experience of harassment before the age of 17.
They created the Hack A Heckle campaign to raise awareness of the problem – especially among young people – and encourage people to safely challenge harassing behaviour.
Read Youth Music’s case study of the group here.
For this week, we had to make sure that we were all up to speed and on the same page while we planned for the launch event scheduled for Monday the 25th of September. Everything from the (relatively) minor details to what would make up fundamental sections of the event needed to be discussed and locked in, so that we...
The XLR Collective were back this week for another session of prep for their Campaign Celebration which will be on Monday the 25th of September. It's hard to believe that the course is nearly over but with so much hard work put into the project there's much to be excited about. After recording the majority of their EP last week at dBs...
Hack A Heckle hit up the studio in this week's session. We came together at DBS to get the instrument tracks down for 5 original songs. We started with re-recording Hide, our main single. This song entered the world from our previous studio session in Barcelona, back in March. With a border-line melancholic tone, Hide reflects the issues around street...
This week the group sat down and talked through what we have all been doing the past week. We also had a small brief about how life coaching will work and our commitment to it. The group also did a value excise where each member wrote down 1. what they value about themselves/ what they think they are good at...
This week the group had a refreshing session about coaching. We had some guests sitting in with us whilst we did some activities that involved learning how to actively listen, filling out the wheel of life and learning how to respond in conversation to empower the other person. It was really interesting and highlighted a lot how important it is to...
In this week's session, we reviewed our original pieces that we performed at Bristol Harbour Festival to see what we could make even better. We set up [a] stage in the main space [at KWMC] so every little detail was exposed. Beth's "Not About That" had slight adjustments to the second half of the chorus, making it more soulful with a variation...
On 22nd July the Hack A Heckle campaign officially launched at Bristol’s Harbour Festival! Catch up with Collective blogger Olivia to find out more: We were very excited and anticipated this moment for months. Beforehand we were organising, practising and refining our music for our 1 hour set on the Bristol Plays Music stage and couldn’t wait to share it with our...
This week the XLR Collective looked beyond the launch of their campaign to challenge gender harassment, Hack a Heckle, to consider their hopes and fears for the future. Campaign Leader Will explains more... 17th July 2017, KWMC This week's session started early, with three of the collective meeting Daniel (Communication Coordinator for the Young People's programme) for a chance to plan the social media strategy for...
This week the XLR Collective had an inspiring session with Bristol-based singer and MC Eva Lazarus. KWMC Communications Coordinator Daniel explains what they got up to... 10th July 2017, KWMC Bristol based sensation gets comfy with XLR's newest collective. Last night was an exciting night of development for Hack a Heckle (HAH). The group sat down with Eva Lazarus, who is perhaps best known for being the...
This week the XLR Collective visited the team at Saffron Records - an all female record label and music education platform based in Bristol. Collective blogger Olivia shares what the group learned and how they're planning to put it into practice in their campaign to combat street harassment... 3rd July 2017, Saffron Records This week we visited Saffron Records and spoke with Laura...
This week the XLR Collective did some serious social media strategising, as they prepare to launch their campaign to challenge sexual harassment on the street. Collective blogger Olivia gives a behind-the-scenes insight into their marketing plans...
26th June 2017, KWMC This week's session began with each member of the group discussing what they've done over the past week towards the campaign. We...
This week the XLR Collective met Kaptin Barrett, festival programmer for Boomtown Fair, for a behind-the-scenes insight into working on a huge summer event. Catch up with Change Creator Will to find out what else the Collective have been up to as they get ready for the launch of their campaign to challenge sexual harassment on the street...
19th...
Over the last few weeks the XLR Collective have been going from strength to strength as they develop plans for their social action campaign to challenge sexual harassment on the street. Change Creator Will has been writing a blog about his experience and what the group have been up to.
You can read his entries for May and June...
Earlier this week, the young musicians and creatives taking part in this year's Change Creators programme spent an amazing three days in Barcelona to learn more about gender equality initiatives in the Catalan city and use their creative skills to develop new music in response to their experiences. The packed programme included meeting gender equality activists, taking to the streets...
On 20th March the XLR Collective focused on communications planning and how they might start to tell the story of their project. It was their final session before they jet to Barcelona to meet activists, campaigners and musicians working on the international stage.
During the session the group worked with KWMC's Communications Officer Rachel to practice 'elevator pitches': short introductions...
This week the Change Creators: XLR Collective’s session was entitled #musicispower.
The session was all about the power that music has to influence, inform and spark change on a personal, national and international level. This session was less about the classic activism songs like Sam Cooke, “A Change Is Gonna Come” or Edwin Star “War”...
Over the next seven months the new cohort of Change Creators - The XLR Collective will be making waves in the city, tackling social issues using musical and creative solutions. You will meet individually through their online profiles over the course of the programme. The Inspire Week, which ran from 20th - 22nd February 2017, gave the group...
Name: Bethany Hamilton-Allotey Campaign: Gender Equality Areas of specialism: Vocalist What made you apply to Change Creators: The XLR Collective? I’ve always had a passion for music, and the Change Creators course is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness for an issue I feel strongly about in a creative way. I also really wanted to work with a group of people that weren’t afraid to...
Name: Courtney Bicker Campaign: Gender Equality Areas of specialism: Vocals & Events Management What made you apply to Change Creators: The XLR Collective? I really wanted to meet some new people that are as passionate about music as I am and I was really interested in making a change through music and feeling like I’ve made a difference. What are you up to when you’re...
Name: Jerome Barrs-James Campaign: Gender Equality Areas of specialism: DJ Producer What made you apply to Change Creators: The XLR Collective? I heard about it through college and the concept behind it appealed to me - of using music as a medium to discuss certain issues. What are you up to when you’re not campaign developing with Change Creators? Normally studying at dBs or messing...
Name: Maya-Blue Gamble Campaign: Gender Equality Areas of specialism: Live Events, festivals What made you apply to Change Creators: The XLR Collective? I applied to Change Creators because I wanted to feel more confident as a leader. Its rare that you see long term opportunities, I’d never seen a program so dedicated to individual development. My brain is literally overflowing with ideas and I’m excited to learn...
Name: Millie Grant
Campaign: Gender Equality
Areas of specialism: Vocalist
What made you apply to Change Creators: The XLR Collective? The chance to make a positive change, go abroad, and meet more likeminded people.
What are you up to when you’re not campaign developing with Change Creators? I’m a full time student with Access to Music so I’m usually studying. I also...
Name: Milo Clack
Campaign: Gender Equality
Areas of specialism: Vocalist (rap and metal), lyricist/activist
What made you apply to Change Creators: The XLR Collective? I want to push myself to develop in every way that I can and would've regretted missing the opportunity to do something extra with my life. I'm also incredibly passionate about music and issues/injustices that people face on a...
Name: Molly Perryman Campaign: Gender Equality Areas of specialism: Drums, guitar, bass What made you apply to Change Creators: The XLR Collective? A friend who attended the course the previous year recommended to me as he couldn't speak more highly of it. He told me how he can now speak in public without a worry because he gained confidence and I thought I'd love to be...
Name: Olivia Sully-Karlis Campaign: Gender Equality Areas of specialism: Sound engineer, music producer and illustrator What made you apply to Change Creators: The XLR Collective? It combined creativity with a positive cause. That really resonated with me as I am passionate about challenging prevalent issues in society. Music is such a powerful tool to carry important messages and emotion so the XLR Collective has created the...
Name: William Sissons Campaign: Gender Equality Areas of specialism: Bass Guitar, Music Technology, Events What made you apply to Change Creators: The XLR Collective? I wanted to challenge myself, confront the issues that I care about head on, and learn skills that will have a positive influence in my daily life. What are you up to when you’re not campaign developing with Change Creators? I like...
Find out more about the Arts Award programme we run at the Media Centre.
