AMP SPOTLIGHTS: CHLOE ASQUITH
Today we’re chatting to Chloe Asquith – an AMP Trustee and past AMP Producer, who’s kicking off a super varied portfolio career across live events, arts, film and TV. This is the second of our AMP SPOTLIGHT interviews, spotlighting some of the amazing creatives and young professionals we work with. Let’s hear a bit about Chloe’s past work with AMP, live music, rural isolation, and arts advocacy!
Callie: Hi Chloe, tell me a bit about yourself! What part do music and the arts play in your life?
Chloe: I’m a Social Anthropology and Politics graduate and I’ve been coordinating events in the creative industries throughout my time at university in Edinburgh and in Yorkshire since graduating. Although I don’t have a specific creative practice myself, I love supporting creatives with their work. I’m always wanting to learn how different places work and collaborate with others on as many random projects as possible.
I’ve managed merchandise concession stands in live entertainment venues, selling t-shirts for bands from pop acts like The Vamps to metal acts like Wardruna.
I’m now building a portfolio career for myself across the television, arts and live events industries.
Callie: Super exciting! Could you tell me a bit about how you first heard about AMP, and what made you want to get involved?
Chloe: After graduating I wanted to gain more experience coordinating events and really wanted to do so in the music industry. I was on the job hunt and saw this paid work experience scheme with AMP music to coordinate a live music event.
This felt so perfect for me. It allowed me to build on my experience of coordinating international hitchhike events and complex video shoots but work on new areas in the music industry. I got to learn so much about how live music works from the tech needed to what it’s like to be a young musician trying to make it at the moment.
Callie: What inspired you to apply for the AMP: Producers Scheme specifically?
Chloe: I’ve been a fan of live music my whole life but I had no idea how gigs were organised. I went to a Boygenius gig that summer and was amazed by how many people seemed to be working on that one event.
Because I had been organising creative video shoots and charity events for 4 years at university, the opportunity to work on a music festival with AMP felt like the perfect way for me to begin working in the live events industry.
I was really excited to be selected as Project Coordinator. The role allowed me to build on my logistics skills and develop skills such as writing contracts, budgeting and front of house operations.
Collaborating with the whole AMP Producers team to make “Come As You Are” happen was such an incredible experience. The fact we created an event programmed with emerging musicians from across genres and brought that diversity to a rural community is something I’m really proud of.
Callie: Tell us a bit about what you got up to on the projects you’ve done with AMP! What was it like, what were your favourite bits and what things challenged you the most?
Chloe: Since working in the AMP Producers programme in 2023, I’ve stayed involved with AMP for the past couple of years.
I worked on a really exciting live music event for the charity with some of the other producers where local representatives came to hear all about AMP’s mission. I had the joy of programming the event to feature two of my favourite local artists. Tymisha is an awesome singer from the Humber who also played at Come As You Are. Ned Swarbrick is a York based artist who I saw supporting a band at the Fulford Arms whilst studying for his GCSEs. It was great to be able to platform young talent from the local community for this event.
I then became a young trustee at AMP music. This has been so rewarding for me. I’ve really enjoyed seeing how strategic decisions are made for a charity such as budget forecasting, policy development and business planning. The board’s inclusive environment and commitment to Youth Voice has been amazing. I’m really excited to continue working with my fellow trustees and AMP staff such as at our Away Day at Clements Hall.
I’ve been a speaker about my work as an AMP Producer at various events to advocate for AMP’s work. This includes the North Yorkshire Cultural Strategy launch, the Sound Sense Community Music Now Conference and to University of York Community Music students.
Callie: How has this work impacted your future pathways? Do you feel it has changed your outlook on careers in the music industry?
Chloe: The thing AMP does really well is truly recognise the challenges there are trying to pursue a career in any creative industry whilst living in a rurally isolated area of the UK. The Gone in Air report that AMP published is the first time I ever really seen these issues vocalised in such a clear way. The cost of living crisis brought me back to rural Yorkshire after graduating and the current state of the economy has made the prospect of renting quite daunting.
Without working with AMP, I would not be pursuing a career in the creative industries. I 1000% would have given up and fallen into a slightly dull politics job with my degree. To say they’ve made my future pathways possible is to put it lightly.
By constantly advocating for young people to have diverse work opportunities in rural areas that actually pay a living wage, they’re breaking barriers for people like me.
Callie: Do you have any similar experiences through other schemes or funding opportunities?
Chloe: I’ve worked, volunteered and completed educational courses with a range of organisations since completing my time as an AMP Producer.
This includes working on virtual production video shoots with Screen Yorkshire, selling international touring artists merchandise at theatres, arenas and festivals like Download and Leeds festival, working with promoters and tour managers in grassroots music venues, volunteering at DeerShed and York Pride, participating in the music industry access scheme In The Loop, and becoming a Launchpad Future Leader with Music Local.
All these experiences have been amazing to broaden my horizons and change my perspective in terms of building a portfolio career for myself.
Without AMP’s commitment to Youth Voice and helping those in rural isolation, I would have struggled to advocate for myself to take part in those opportunities. The AMP Producers programme has set me up really well to advocate for myself to be paid fairly in creative industries that often try to take advantage of young aspiring workers.
Callie: Who would you recommend this scheme to? How do you think it can benefit folks just breaking into the sector?
Chloe: I would recommend the AMP Producers scheme to everyone. Don’t be intimidated if you haven’t worked in music before! My background did not remotely involve music (it had been a while since I played the drums in the school orchestra!). As long as you have the skills, drive and passion to create a dynamic music event, you will thrive in this scheme no matter your previous experiences.
This opportunity is great to learn new skills and knowledge whilst working professionally in the industry. The inclusive and supportive environment of the AMP Producers scheme makes it a great place to ask questions and collaborate with each other.
Callie: Any advice for writing an application for opportunities like this? What do you think made you stand out?
Chloe: Don’t just use AI to write the whole thing! Make it obvious you’ve read the application. Use key words from the scheme’s advertisement and mention why you’re excited to work with that company specifically.
Own your niche! Figure out what interesting and unique experience you are bringing to this project. For me, when I applied to AMP Producers, my background in coordinating local and international events for other charities and being President of the Edinburgh University Television society meant I had a lot of transferable skills that aligned with the Project Coordinator role. I was used to working on creative projects and adapting how I planned things to suit other people’s needs.
Callie: What’s next for you? Any new projects you’ll be working on that you want to promote? Where is your career going next?
Chloe: I was recently selected for a Researcher position through a scheme with ScreenSkills. This means I’m going to support the production of unscripted television in North Yorkshire, developing new ideas for shows and supporting various shoots. I’m really excited to be turning my hand to working on this style of production and expand my knowledge of technical video filming equipment.
I want my career to remain in the creative industries and I’m really excited to continue advocating for AMP music as a young trustee.
This interview was conducted by me, Callie, a Young Trustee and AMP’s Marketing Intern! I’ve been a participant in various AMP projects for the last five years, and now getting to work with AMP directly to promote some of the amazing work that’s being done. More spotlights still to come!
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