Introducing ‘Pathways’: Conversations about Progression for Young People
After spending six months on Sound Connections’ Wired4Music Associates programme, and inspired by her own experiences of programmes aimed towards young people, Yasmine Dankwah has developed a podcast called ‘Pathways’.
An independent project, Yasmine set out to talk to young creatives from various fields about their experiences on creative training programmes, both positive and negative, and to posit ways in which organisations are supporting or can better support young people getting into the creative industries after the programme ends.
What inspired this podcast was my experience of being on several programmes, with a little bit more to add on the CV or portfolio, sometimes some new friends, followed by a series of rejected applications! I felt like I was equipped but couldn’t get my foot in the door despite the support and I wanted to hear the thoughts of some of my peers and their experiences. Also, being part of the Wired4Music Associate programme which was aimed at those who were aging out or had aged out of the 16-25 bracket, I was curious as to why other organisations hadn’t considered implementing a strategy like this, especially after COVID.
Yasmine Dankwah - Wired4Music Associate
Pathways
Welcome to the Pathways Podcast, a bi-weekly audio quest in search of Creative Progression for young people. Over a series of levels, we’ll follow the voices of 5 young creatives who’ll posit new ways to create accessible and sustainable routes into the creative industries by reflecting on their experience on skills development programmes for young people. Are you ready to play?
Episode 0
With references to Club Penguin and the myth of meritocracy, in this introductory episode of Pathways, Wired4Music Associate and spoken word poet, Yasmine Dankwah will be looking at her own experience of trying to find pathways of certainty, from getting a degree to creative skills development programmes, that would allow her to get into the creative industry. She’ll also introduce you to The World of Pathways…
Transcripts can be found, here
Writer: Yasmine Dankwah
Sound Designer: Ivan d’Avoine
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @pathwayspod
Pathways is supported by Sound Connections and Wired4Music.
Yasmine Dankwah (she/her)
Creator of Pathways Podcast
Yasmine is a British-Ghanaian writer, spoken word poet and Wired4Music Associate born raised and based in South London. Passionate about creative access and equity, informed by her former roles at the Black Music Coalition and Notion Magazine, as an Associate she’s had the opportunity to work with a variety of different organisations and develop her skillset and passion further. Yasmine has performed as part of Sofar Sounds, The Roundhouse and has been featured on BBC Radio London. She is also a recipient of the Francis Chagrin award for composition.
Ivan d’Avoine (he/him)
Sound Designer
Ivan is a freelance Audio Producer, Sound Designer and Photographer who has worked for the likes of the BBC, Novel, The Roundhouse, and A Human Atlas. His work often explores the intersections of society and the ways in which we occupy the space around us. Experimental audio storytelling, soundscapes and oral histories are all core aspects of his practice which he finds effective when engaging and navigating the hard ‘edges’ of city living. He is interested in examining the close relationships between ‘person’ and ‘place’ in London, and how one might navigate and map social landscapes sonically.
Tanya Shamil
Character Graphic Designer
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