Announcing the Audio Artist Pathway
We’re excited to launch the Audio Artist Pathway — a new programme supporting mid-career audio professionals from underrepresented backgrounds to expand their creative practice and explore the audio arts.
Developed as a collaboration between Multitrack and In The Dark, the year-long programme will support a small cohort of experienced audio professionals to develop original artistic work while connecting with new creative networks across the audio arts sector.
The pathway will run from September 2026 to September 2027 and will include mentoring, masterclasses, peer support and opportunities to develop new creative ideas in sound. Participants will also receive a £3,000 stipend to support their time on the programme.
Masterclass sessions and a resource pack will be made publicly available to anyone wishing to expand their creative practice in the audio arts.
Applications open 1 May 2026.
What the programme offers
Over the course of the year, participants will be supported through:
Monthly masterclasses with established audio artists and practitioners
Monthly peer support sessions and group critiques (some remote, some in person at venues across the UK)
6 monthly sessions offering one-to-one mentoring and career support
Connections to venues, funders and networks across the audio arts sector
A £3,000 stipend to support participation and seed-fund new work
Participants will develop an original creative project during the programme, with the opportunity to present their work at the XMTR Audio Arts Festival in St Leonards-on-Sea in 2027.
This presentation could take many forms — including a finished piece, work-in-progress showing, performance, installation or public conversation.
Who the Pathway is for
The Audio Artist Pathway is designed for mid-career audio practitioners with at least five years’ experience working in sound.
You might be:
a radio or podcast producer
a radio documentary maker
a sound designer
a studio manager or mix engineer
a live radio producer
or working in another professional audio role
The programme is aimed at people who already have strong audio production skills but want to expand their practice into new artistic directions.
The pathway is open to UK-based practitioners from backgrounds that are underrepresented in the audio industry, including people from low socioeconomic backgrounds, people from minority ethnic groups, and people who are disabled, neurodivergent or living with a long-term health condition.
We particularly encourage applications from people based outside London and in areas underserved by the arts.
We are particularly interested to hear from those with a professional background in radio or podcast production.
Key dates
Applications open: 1 May 2026
Applications close: 31 May 2026 at midnight
Programme runs: September 2026 – September 2027
How to apply
To apply for the Audio Artist Pathway, start by reading all the information here, and check out the FAQs for the project. You should find all the information you need to understand if you’re eligible for the opportunity, and how to apply. Good luck!
What about the entry Level Multitrack Fellowship - is that happening this year?
No, the entry level Fellowship is not running this year. The Audio Artist Pathway will be Multitrack’s core project for 2026-2027.
Why are you supporting mid-level creatives and not entry level?
The decision to pause the Multitrack Fellowship follows a period of reflection on where the organisation can have the greatest impact within a rapidly changing industry landscape. While entry-level schemes have expanded in recent years — with a growing number of training and early-career opportunities now available — significant challenges remain around retention and progression.
Recent workforce data from Ofcom highlights persistent structural inequalities across the audio and broadcasting sector. Disabled professionals make up just 9% of radio employees compared to an 18% UK population benchmark, while only 27% of the workforce comes from working-class backgrounds versus 39% nationally. Although ethnic diversity has improved at entry level, representation declines at more senior stages, and regional disparities continue to limit access to sustainable careers.
We’re seeing a pattern where talented people enter the industry but don’t always stay. While entry-level access remains important, there is a clear need to support those who are already working in audio to sustain their careers, take creative risks, and diversify their skillsets (and income streams) so they can remain in the industry.
At Multitrack we are committed to our values of access, equity and community at all levels of the industry- entry level and beyond. We maintain an active network of Fellows and will continue to promote, support and share accessible entry level opportunities via our social networks.
Why an audio art project? Hasn’t Multitrack always been industry focused?
We are living through a period of rapid change in the audio industry. Many talented audio makers are under increasing pressure to produce work more quickly and cheaply, often at the expense of creativity. As workflows shift and AI becomes more embedded in production, there is a real risk that vital creative skills and knowledge will be lost.
At the heart of both Multitrack and In The Dark, there’s a belief in the unique creative power of sound — its ability to challenge dominant cultures, foster connection, and tell stories that resonate deeply. We are committed to ensuring that the artists behind this work are supported to adapt and thrive as the industry evolves.
Rather than allowing creative talent to be displaced, we see an opportunity to preserve and strengthen it. By supporting mid-career audio makers to expand their skills and explore new creative pathways, we can help sustain the originality and human insight that are essential to powerful sound-based storytelling.
This belief is at the heart of the Audio Artist Pathway. Through this initiative, we will support makers facing barriers to develop new skills, broaden their opportunities, and continue contributing to the industry in meaningful ways.
Our goal is to help build a future where creative audio talent is nurtured, valued, and empowered to flourish.
