We were excited to hear the recent announcement of Sugar House Island resident UD’s new partnerships ahead of its 25th anniversary. The music organisation works to nurture and support Black and culturally diverse artists, bridging the gap between emerging talent and the music industry. Institutions such as Island Records, Rinse FM and SBTV, along with artists including Little Simz, Labrinth and Skepta have all been supported through UD’s work.
Converse, Soho House Foundation and Sony Music UK are amongst the new line-up of partners that will help to further UD’s mission to champion the next generation of Black creative talent and create opportunities for young people in the field. These partnerships will allow UD to expand its engagement with young people through the creation of a Youth Access programme offering training and work experience with the music industry, outreach to schools in London Borough of Newham and by providing access to fully equipped recording studios for up-and-coming creatives.
Pamela McCormick, CEO of UD, said: “UD’s journey over the past 25 years has been underpinned by individual commitment and sector wide collaboration and so as we plot and plan for the next 25 years, it’s essential to have the right partners and people in place. Central to this is our infrastructure and relationships within the local community; the launch of the Talent House on Sugar House Island has been a game changer for us and the young people we work with, offering state of the art facilities and a home for creativity to flourish over the next 25 years and beyond.”
UD moved to Sugar House Island’s creative hub, The Talent House, in 2021, alongside East London Dance. This state-of-the art dance and music hub has ensured that even more outstanding but under-represented talent can develop skills in the heart of East London.
It is fantastic to have UD be a part of our neighbourhood and see its positive impact on and engagement with the local community. At Sugar House Island we are proud to champion creative and independent businesses like UD, which nurture talent already in Stratford and help support the next generation of talent.