The musician creating a new Christmas hit with Lancashire creatives in lockdown

The venture is set to be launched by a new organisation, dedicated to producing and promoting new music and theatre with emerging artists from the North West.

Vicki Ciaputa, 32, originally from Wigan, founded Script & Score last September and hopes the venture will encourage talented people to stay within the arts.

She said: "Having grown up, studied and worked in the North West I've seen hundreds of amazingly talented young people excel in the arts at school, college and university, but it is extremely difficult to find your feet when you first enter the professional world.

“You need support, networks, and overall paid work to support yourself, and this can be really challenging for emerging artists.

“Freelancing or being self-employed in any profession is difficult and if I can help musicians and theatre makers to forge a sustainable career in the arts I think it can really change the creative landscape of the North West. We want to encourage our homegrown talent to build their careers here."

Like people in many professions, performing artists have been hit hard by events in 2020.

The news came after Chancellor Rishi Sunak suggested people 'in all walks of life' should look to find new opportunities back in October.

The government followed by announcing their 'Rethink. Reskill. Reboot' campaign that caused a stir on social media and with creatives across the country, urging those working in the arts to consider retraining in a new industry to decrease levels of unemployment.

Vicki is now using this opportunity to write a new Christmas carol to be performed by musicians across Lancashire to 'create something beautiful and meaningful at a really tough time.'

As a not-for-profit organisation, Script and Score needs to raise £1,300 by the start of December to hear their carol, composed by arranger and vocalist Ollie Lambert, ring through the air

Vicki said: “Lots of singers and musicians are used to performing a lot at Christmas time, which obviously can't happen this year, so the thought was to create something that could still create community, even if it is virtually.”

Script & Score provides support and opportunities to musicians, composers and writers in the county at this critical stage in their career.

The Script and Score kickstarter can be found here.