SoundUp Arts nominated for Manchester Culture Award

An initiative providing participatory music and arts to people living with dementia has been nominated for a Manchester Culture Award.

Established in 2018 by vocal alumni Lucy Temby as part of her Junior Fellowship in Creative Engagement and now run independently by her and Co-Director Rachel Spiers, SoundUp Arts runs choirs, music workshops, long-term arts projects, interactive concerts and singing sessions for people living with dementia. It’s also committed to supporting, developing, and working with young musicians at the start of their careers.

Lucy Temby with care home residents at the piano

Fiona Stuart, RNCM Head of Creative Engagement, said: ‘We are incredibly proud of the important work Lucy and Rachel have done in our local community also in developing the skills of our students.  Watching Lucy launch SoundUp as part of her RNCM Junior Fellowship was inspiring. Her passion and drive to create musical opportunities for people living with dementia is clear to everyone she works with and we are delighted SoundUp has been nominated for a Manchester Culture award.’

Since 2019 it’s produced almost 9,500 musical and creative engagements in person and online, trained 99 students through Music-Made-Well, and delivered 350 resource packs to people living with dementia.

The Manchester Culture Awards take place on 24 November. SoundUp Arts has been nominated in the Promotion of Health and Wellbeing category. We wish Lucy, Rachel and all involved in this fantastic organisation the very best of luck!

23 November 2021