The Oram Awards is a platform to elevate the work and voices of women and gender non-conforming artists innovating in sound, music and related technology.

 

Named after Daphne Oram, one of the founding directors of the legendary BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Oram was a radical composer, engineer and early pioneer of electronics and sound working in a male-dominated world that often undermined and overshadowed her success. She has played a vital role in establishing women at the forefront of innovation in newly-emerging audio technologies not only in the UK but around the world. 

 

Our program aims to contribute to long-term change, implementing working methods to overcome discriminatory barriers in the music & sound sector. locally and internationally

 

The Orams programme includes:

 

• awards program - Winners are selected for their innovative approach to music creation, receiving a £1000 bursary to develop their creative practice.

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• Mentorship - 1-2-1 program  matching each individual winner with professionals related to their artistic field and interests, offering specific support in sound production, developing their public profile and maintaining sustainable working practices. Offering space for active listening, problem solving, goal setting and responding directly to the areas of support of our mentees.

 

• Live events - giving the winning artists a platform on which to perform their work in partnership with leading contemporary music festivals across the UK. Previous partnerships - Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Kings Place - London, Blue Dot Festival, Supersonic Festival - Birmingham, Turner Contemporary - Margate, Iklectik - London, No Bounds Festival - Sheffield

 

• Q&A / Panel Talks - as part of our live events, artists with diverse creative practices discuss topics around their use of technology, how technology provides a safe space to explore identity, gender equity and their own experiences and journeys in the music industry

 

• Workshops - as part of our live events we run sound and audio technology workshops - open to the public. Diversifying access to music technology and sector representation

 

• New work commissions & collaboration opportunities

 

• Community & network -we are very proud that our platform is becoming renowned within our field, fostering communities reaching well over 500 participants and transforming the careers of over 50 of the most exciting artists, composers, DJs and instrument designers working across the UK, and Indonesia, Egypt, Palestine and Malaysia. 

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• The Oram Awards is based in the East Midlands. We are dedicated to supporting urban, rural and regional artists from across the UK.​

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• We are a registered Non-Profit UK Community Interest Company
  Oram Awards CIC 
  Reg No: 1494454