Arts Council Boost for Huddersfield Music Scene as Northern Quarter Secures 18-Month Funding

Posted By: KLTVon: February 12, 2026In: Cultural Leaders Group TV, News

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By KLTV Newsdesk –

Northern Quarter Events CIC to deliver women-focused grassroots programme across 2026–2027

Northern Quarter Events CIC has secured funding from Arts Council England’s Grass Roots Music Fund to deliver an ambitious 18-month programme championing women and women-fronted artists in music.

The SisterHudd project, delivered in partnership with SisterHudd and grassroots venue Northern Quarter, will run throughout 2026 and 2027. The initiative aims to create meaningful opportunities for women in music, while strengthening Huddersfield’s live music scene and town centre economy.

Showcases, Open Mics and Industry Networking

The programme will feature five curated showcases highlighting local artists, alongside performances from twelve women-only or women-fronted bands from across the UK.

In addition, twelve women-only open mic events and four networking sessions will be staged, offering accessible entry points for emerging performers and creating space for professional development, peer support and confidence-building within the music industry.

Northern Quarter, a long-standing grassroots venue known for live music and community-led cultural events, will host the programme’s activity.

Northern Quarter Events CIC operates as a community interest company in collaboration with the venue.

The project officially launches on Saturday, 7 March at Northern Quarter, with the first SisterHudd showcase setting the tone for the 18-month schedule of events.

Leadership and Delivery

The initiative will be managed and delivered by Northern Quarter Events CIC, with SisterHudd founder and project manager Toma Petkauskaite overseeing its implementation.

Toma will oversee programming, artist liaison, marketing and partnerships across the full duration of the project.

Northern Quarter will support delivery as the partner venue, and the programme will conclude with a structured evaluation period to assess impact, capture learning and identify future development opportunities.

Strengthening Huddersfield’s Cultural Identity

Beyond supporting artists, organisers say the programme will bring high-quality live music to Huddersfield, drawing audiences from across the region. By combining touring women and women-fronted artists with local talent, the initiative aims to boost the town centre economy and reinforce Huddersfield’s reputation for grassroots music and independent culture.

Speaking about the funding, Toma Petkauskaite said: “This support from Arts Council England allows SisterHudd to work in partnership with Northern Quarter Events CIC to properly invest in women-led music activity at a grassroots level.

“This means we can create safe, welcoming, and professionally supported spaces where women feel confident stepping on stage, building networks, and developing their creative practice.”

Erica Ward, Director of Northern Quarter Events CIC, said: “As a not-for-profit organisation, we prioritise community, local talent, and positive social impact.

“We passionately believe in the power of music to bring people together, create community connections, and positively affect wellbeing and health.

“We developed this project because women and minority gender people remain under-represented in the music industry – on stages, in festival line-ups, and in behind-the-scenes roles – and we wanted to do something about it.

“We are thrilled to have secured Arts Council funding to enable us to work in partnership with SisterHudd to amplify and celebrate women in music.”