Bishop's Cleeve-based La Vie Studio and CBLV Community CIC have secured approximately £35,000 in funding and in-kind support for a new artist development programme, with local businesses and residents invited to help fund its full delivery.
A Gloucestershire music initiative has secured approximately £35,000 in funding and in-kind support to provide emerging musicians with free professional recording, production and performance opportunities.
La Vie Studio Access Sessions, organised by Bishop's Cleeve-based La Vie Studio and CBLV Community CIC, has received £19,690 from Arts Council England, alongside contributions from local organisations and businesses, including Renishaw and Cheltenham Borough Council.
The programme will support 10 emerging solo artists, duos or bands from across Gloucestershire, including Cheltenham, offering free professional recording and production sessions, songwriting workshops, filmed live performances and career-development guidance.
Participants will also have opportunities to perform at two free public showcases, with artists paid for their performances. The events will take place at Parler in Cheltenham, helping connect emerging talent with local audiences.
Two aspiring recording engineers will also receive paid, supervised industry experience, providing an opportunity to develop technical skills and gain practical experience in a professional recording environment.
Building on a Successful Pilot
The new programme follows a smaller pilot delivered by La Vie Studio in 2025, which supported emerging musicians through five recording sessions and resulted in six original songs being created.
Music produced through the pilot subsequently received four radio plays, including two on national radio, demonstrating the potential for local artists to reach audiences beyond Gloucestershire when given access to professional facilities and support.
Alongside the musical outcomes, the sessions helped participants build connections, develop confidence and establish new creative relationships and career opportunities.
The expanded Access Sessions programme aims to build on these results, providing a more structured pathway from songwriting and recording through to live performance and future career opportunities.
Making Music More Accessible
Professional recording, production and artist development can be expensive, particularly for younger musicians who are still developing their careers.
The initiative aims to remove these financial barriers, with particular consideration given to musicians from lower-income backgrounds and groups that may face additional obstacles in accessing the music industry, including women, the global majority and people from underrepresented communities.
Rather than simply offering free studio time, the programme is designed to help participants develop their music, meet other artists, gain experience performing and leave with professional material they can use to pursue further opportunities.
The project also forms part of the wider work of CBLV Community CIC, a Gloucestershire-based community organisation that brings people together through music, creative learning and shared interests.
CBLV has developed an online community of more than 200 members, offering opportunities for people to connect, learn from one another and take part in creative activities.
The organisation's wider approach focuses on reducing isolation, building friendships and making creative spaces more welcoming and accessible, particularly for young people and those who may struggle to find affordable opportunities locally.
Sebastien Sanders, founder of La Vie Studio and Director of CBLV Community CIC, said:
We've worked hard to secure the funding to make these opportunities accessible to musicians who might otherwise struggle to afford them. It's about more than recording songs. We want to help people develop their skills, build relationships and feel part of a supportive creative community.
Working with Gloucestershire's Creative Community
The project is being developed with connections across the county's music and creative sector, including The Music Works, Gloucestershire Music Hub, Tewkesbury Live, True Tone Music and Parler.
These relationships will help the organisers reach emerging talent, connect participants with further opportunities and strengthen links between local musicians, venues and music organisations.
The programme will also create opportunities for audiences to discover new Gloucestershire talent through its public showcases and filmed performances.
Local Support Needed
With approximately £35,000 already secured through funding and in-kind contributions, the organisers are now seeking additional donations and business sponsorship to cover the remaining costs, deliver the programme in full and hopefully help even more musicians through the project.
Local businesses are invited to support the initiative, with opportunities for partnerships, event and project sponsorship, recognition across filmed performances, social media, the project website and promotional materials.
Further support will help maintain the full range of recording, songwriting, performance and professional development opportunities planned for participants.
The public Crowdfunder campaign runs until 2nd December 2026, with donations of any size welcomed.
More information and ways to support the project can be found on the Crowdfunder page.
