As part of the #InvestInCulture campaign, we’re highlighting the work of creatives and organisations working in Scotland’s music sector.
Below, Tamara Schlesinger, the founder of Hen Hoose, shares her experience and the impact that support has had on her career and the Collective:
“I’ve worked as an artist in the music industry for over 20 years, and throughout that time, I’ve relied on funding to sustain my career. In 2020, I was fortunate to receive support from Creative Scotland to produce my album I’m Not Your Soldier. This funding allowed me to record at Chem19 Studios with Paul Savage—an opportunity that would have been out of reach without financial backing. That album became a career milestone, opening doors for me to compose music for TV and film, significantly advancing my artistic journey.
Beyond my work as an artist, I am the CEO and founder of Hen Hoose Collective. Hen Hoose was established during lockdown, initially as a project to bring together female and non-binary artists to collaborate and create music during a challenging period. Our mission is to foster a more equitable and accessible space within Scotland’s music industry. This work culminated in the album Equaliser, which was shortlisted for The SAY Award in 2022. Today, Hen Hoose has grown into a fully developed organisation offering a range of programmes and resources.
Supported by Creative Scotland, we provide outreach initiatives, workshops, panels, events, mentoring, audio production courses, live performances, and collaborative songwriting camps. We continue our collaborative songwriting work with Hen Hoose members, and our efforts have been recognised by the John Lennon Foundation for our commitment to gender equality. All our offerings are free and in high demand, underscoring the need for these opportunities among musicians and producers in Scotland. The feedback from participants and Collective members has been overwhelmingly positive; many artists describe the experiences as life-changing.
In addition to these opportunities, we’ve also created paid roles for those who lead workshops, perform, participate in panels, and mentor others. None of this would be possible without the transformative funding from Creative Scotland, which has allowed us to make a profound impact on the lives of women and non-binary individuals in Scotland’s music industry. Without this support, Hen Hoose simply wouldn’t exist.”
The Importance of Sustained Funding for Culture
The impact that funding and support had on Tamara and Hen Hoose highlights the vital need for investment in Scotland’s cultural sector. As part of our #InvestInCulture campaign, their story demonstrates how funding not only supports individual artists but also builds infrastructure that fosters equality, inclusion, and innovation.
The campaign calls on the Scottish Government to deliver on their promise of increasing sector investment by ‘at least’ £100 million annually by 2028/29, including an incremental increase of £25 million next year.
Get Involved with the #InvestInCulture Campaign
The #InvestInCulture campaign calls on everyone who values the arts to help advocate for long-term, sustainable investment by:
- Sharing Your Story: Post about how music, literature, film, art, craft, theatre, dance, or other cultural experiences have impacted your life using the hashtag #InvestInCulture.
- Writing to Your MSP: Visit the Culture Counts website to access a template letter and find your MSP’s contact details.
- Spreading the Word: Share the #InvestInCulture campaign graphic on your social media channels (available to download here) to amplify the message.
Join the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) and sign up to our mailing list to stay informed about the progress of the #InvestInCulture campaign, as well as our wider work to strengthen, empower and unite Scotland’s music industry.
As a member, you’ll receive regular updates on our work and the latest developments in supporting Scotland’s cultural sector.