Horizons Launchpad Fund has announced awards totalling over £63,000 to forty-nine emerging Welsh artists, the most since it was established in 2014. The fund is part of Horizons – a partnership between BBC Cymru Wales and Arts Council of Wales, investing in and platforming original music talent.
Recipients include artists from the MOBO scene and numerous Welsh language artists.
Artists chosen to receiving support include 6 Music faves The Bug Club (pictured), Libertino Records artists Bandicoot, SYBS, and KIM HON, Independent Venue Week ambassador Cardiff MC Mace the Great recently announced for SXSW 2022, Thallo, emerging pop star Hana Lili who has caught the attention of Spotify’s New Music Friday, Ladies of Rage alumni Asha Jane, Welsh Music Prize nominee Luke RV, L Green Man Rising winner Teddy Hunter, Triskel Award 2021 winner Alice Low.
In its eight year history Horizons Launchpad Fund has supported over 250 artists from over 60 different Welsh towns, meaning £273,000 has been invested in the Welsh music ecosystem. The funds for Launchpad is made possible through the National Lottery, allocated by Arts Council of Wales.
Many have been supported in their creative work with the fund enabling them to spend time in a studio, commission photography and artwork, for the promotion of releases, equipment, video production and touring costs. For the forty-nine artists awarded funding this year this is a key moment in their journey, that could include artist development, promotion and showcases sets at festivals.
Lisa Matthews-Jones, Portfolio Manager with Arts Council of Wales said: “We were bowled over by the number and richness of the applications that came in. There is a tremendous amount of music talent in Wales across all genres and corners and Launchpad is a vital opportunity to elevate these artists.”
Bethan Elfyn, Project Manager with Horizons said, “We’re very grateful to Arts Council of Wales and BBC Wales for supporting this project into its 8th year, providing crucial first steps for artists in Wales. It’s more important than ever to connect a community, to believe in the artists and their journey and to inject the Welsh music industry with investment in the whole ecosystem around the artists – from the studios, to producers, labels, promotion companies and more. We’re really excited to see how these music projects develop.”
The forty-nine artists to receive Horizons Launchpad 2022 funding are:
ALICE LOW, ANWAR SIZBAR, AISHA KIGS, ALEKXSANDR, ARTSHAWTY, ASHA JANE, BANDICOOT, THE BUG CLUB, CHASING SHADOWS, CELAVI, CLWB FUZZ, CERYS HAFANA, CI GOFOD, CUPSOFTE, GWENNO MORGAN, HANNA LILI, HEMES, TEDDY HUNTER, JAMES AND THE COLD GUN, K(E)NZ, KINNIGAN, KIM HON, KNOMAD, L E M F R E C K, LLOYDY LEW, LUKE RV, MACE THE GREAT, MALAN, MALI HAF, MANTARAYBRYN, MARARI MORE, NIQUES, PANTA RAY, REBECCA HURN,ROMAN YASIN, SKYLRK, SOREN ARAUJO, SYBS, SU SANG SONG, SZWE, TARA BANDITO, TAPESTRI, THALLO , WINGER RECORDS, WOBBLI BOI, WYNT, VOYA, YAZMEAN, XL LIFE.