Joe Stoddart writes: 

The first annual ‘Jazz Promotion Network’ Conference will take place on 23rd & 24th July in Manchester and registration is now open.


Running alongside the Manchester Jazz Festival, the conference will feature “keynote speeches by influential figures (yet to be confirmed), presentations about international opportunities, discussions on audiences, touring, education and other pressing issues, and direct contributions from JPN members in the form of pitching sessions to propose ideas for future collective action.”

The conference has been put together by a team including Tony Dudley-Evans (Birmingham Jazzlines & Cheltenham Jazz Festival), Steve Mead (Manchester Jazz Festival & Jazz North), Amy Pearce(London Jazz Festival & Serious), Ian Perry (Lakeside Centre Nottingham & Nottingham Jazzhouse), John Blandford (Cambridge Modern Jazz), Todd Willis (Bristol Music Trust), Nod Knowles – co-ordinator (Bath) and Steve Crocker (Seven Jazz, Leeds).

The JPN Conference is supported by Arts Council England.