The Record Store and Black Music: A UK History - Volunteers Needed

We’re looking for volunteers from across the North of England to take part in an exciting heritage project. ‘The Record Store & Black Music: A UK History’ will capture the life and times of UK independent record stores that specialised in Black music, from 1950 onwards.

Volunteers will steer research and interviews that represent this history, which will be shared in a groundbreaking documentary film, website and book.

If you want to learn new media skills and/or put existing ones into practice, why not join us?

What we’ll provide:

Training and experience in interviewing and research techniques
Guidance from industry standard media professionals
An opportunity to interview artists, DJs, store owners, customers, and music fans
Opportunities to shadow a professional filmmaker and be part of the making of a documentary
Refreshments and travel expenses covered. We can also cover access costs to help you take part - this includes things like disability support, translation or childcare

To take part, you’ll need to:

Be aged 16+
Have an interest in Black music and/or Black History
Attend 2 x 3 hour sessions of oral history training (30 and 31 October, 5-9pm at our offices in Manchester)
Commit to at least 8 x 3 hour sessions in total, between October 2023 and July 2024

No prior knowledge or experience is necessary, and the time commitment is flexible on a sessional basis.

Some sessions will be scheduled on evenings and/or weekends, to enable a range of people to take part. Sessions will take place in Manchester and online. We would also consider online-only volunteering, if you’re unable to attend in person (e.g. research).

Project Background

2Funky Arts has been awarded a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, to explore experiences of UK independent record stores that specialised in Black music (1950’s onwards).

This will be a wide-reaching, national project, working with Brighter Sound and Sound/Image Research Centre (University of Greenwich, London).

For the Windrush generation and Black diaspora, the early independent UK record store was a music-fueled vehicle for resistance against systemic racism. Such sites became fertile ground for new music, and cultural eco-systems that shaped society’s relationship with Black music.

In this context, we define Black Music as a cultural and stylistic term, encompassing genres including soul, disco, reggae, R&B, gospel, Afrobeat and hip hop. The project will illuminate Black, African, and Caribbean experiences of this national heritage, using a documentary, KS3 educational resource, publication, website and podcast series.

The History of 2Funky

Director Vijay Mistry ran 2Funky Records from 1997-2012; an independent record store based in Leicester with an international reputation among DJs, artists and tastemakers. 2Funky Records was one the UK’s leading independent music stores, specialising in Music of Black Origin. This is where the 2Funky story began.

Established in 2007, 2Funky Arts is a social enterprise, dedicated to advancing and celebrating arts and music of black origin. Their projects work instinctively to stir emotion, provoke debate, nurture collaborations, and push boundaries across sub-genres.

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund

'The Record Store & Black Music - a UK History' is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Using money raised by the National Lottery, the National Lottery Heritage Fund inspires, leads and resources the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and for the future. Since the National Lottery began in 1994, National Lottery players have raised over £43 billion for projects and more than 635,000 grants have been awarded across the UK. Each week, thanks to National Lottery players, £30 million is raised for good causes across the UK.

www.heritagefund.org.uk

Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund.