Northern Quarter Events CIC has been awarded funding from Arts Council England’s Grass Roots Music Fund to deliver an ambitious 18-month programme supporting women and women-fronted artists in music, in partnership with SisterHudd and grassroots music venue Northern Quarter.
Running across 2026-2027, the SisterHudd project will deliver five curated showcases highlighting local artists, alongside performances from twelve women-only or women-fronted bands from across the UK. In addition, the programme will include twelve women-only open mic events and four networking sessions, creating accessible pathways for emerging artists while supporting professional development, peer connection, and confidence-building within the music industry.
Northern Quarter will act as the programme’s partner venue, hosting activity and supporting delivery as a long-standing grassroots space for live music and community-led cultural events in Huddersfield. Northern Quarter Events is a community interest company that works in collaboration with the Northern Quarter venue.
The programme will officially launch on Saturday, 7 March at Northern Quarter, with the first SisterHudd showcase marking the start of the funded project and setting the tone for the 18-month programme of events.
The project will be managed and delivered by Northern Quarter Events CIC and Toma Petkauskaite, founder and project manager of SisterHudd. Toma will lead on programming, artist liaison, marketing, and partnerships across the 18-month programme. Delivery will be supported by Northern Quarter as the project’s partner venue, and the programme will conclude with a structured evaluation period to capture impact, learning, and future development opportunities.
Beyond supporting artists, the SisterHudd programme will bring high-quality live music to Huddersfield, attracting audiences from across the region. By combining touring women and women-fronted artists with local talent, the project will support the town centre economy and strengthen 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.”
Artists, musicians, and industry professionals interested in getting involved in the programme are encouraged to get in touch.
Contacts
SisterHudd – Toma Petkauskaite Email: project.sisterhudd@gmail.com https://www.instagram.com/sister.hudd/
Northern Quarter Events CIC – Erica Ward Email: NQhuddevents@gmail.com https://www.instagram.com/northernquarter_huddersfield/
