PiPA is running a series of focus groups in partnership with Association of British Orchestras, Help Musicians UK, Musicians Union, Liverpool Philharmonic and SWAP’ra to better understand the lived experience of classical musicians, composers, singers and conductors who are also fathers, mothers, and/or have caring responsibilities. This is a paid opportunity.

This study will identify specific challenges and opportunities within the sector and will help us create a sector-wide survey focussing on practical strategies that organisations can develop to support parents and carers. We hope this survey will be live in Autumn 2021.

A survey of the wider performing arts industry that we carried out in January this year identified that existing challenges faced by parents and carers working in Music have been further exacerbated by the pandemic due to venue closures, home-schooling and full-time caring responsibilities restricting the ability to work/ practice, and increased stress.

We are looking for 36 participants to take part in one of three focus groups of 12 participants each during the week commencing 7th June 2021. All focus groups will take part on Teams and will last no longer than 90 minutes.

Each participant will receive compensation of £50 (non-taxable) in return for attending one of the focus groups.

In order to be eligible for the focus group you must meet the following criteria:

  • Your main job must be one of the following:
    • Classical Musician
    • Composer
    • Conductor
    • Opera Singer
    • Choral Singer
  • You must have caring responsibilities. Either:
    • Parenting responsibilities: Mother, father, adoptive parent, foster carer and/or legal guardian of a child under the age of 18

AND/ OR

  • Care responsibilities: Anyone who is responsible, unpaid, for the care of a friend, family member or another person who, for a variety of reasons, is not currently able to cope without their support.

So that our focus groups represent the full diversity of parents and carers in music, we are particularly keen to hear from people from a culturally diverse background (including Black, Asian, Dual Heritage and Other Ethnic Groups); D/deaf people; individuals with disabilities; people who are from a working-class background; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people or any underrepresented group in the classical music sector. Please talk to us about your access requirements.

If you would like to join us in changing the way music works for parents and carers by participating in our focus groups, please fill out this very short form by 10am on 31st May 2021. If we are oversubscribed we’ll use the demographic information to ensure that we have a representative balance across the focus groups.

Please contact us by email if you would like more information, or you have any questions or concerns at cassie@pipacampaign.com.