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About

Get curious with sound

CLIP are an award winning social enterprise who support, enable and empower young people to take creative risks and create exciting new music. Based in North Essex, our free accessible music workshops support young creatives to explore new technologies and get curious with sound in supportive and encouraging environments, ensuring self-perceived ability is never a barrier to entry. CLIP’s innovative range of music instruments offers exciting new accessible ways of making electronic music, and in turn generating income which supports our social cause.

CLIP was founded by artists Frazer Merrick and Simon Keep in 2017, beginning as an informal meet-up at Firstsite in Colchester as part of Tate’s ‘Circuit’ programme which examined how galleries can support positive change for young people. Since then CLIP has run a music club at the gallery delivering curious, inspiring and innovative youth music projects such as; going behind scenes at Colchester Zoo to record the animals, performing Terry Riley’s In C whilst in the sea, and circuit bending old keyboards which won the international Maker Music Festival.

Simon Keep

Co-Founder

Simon Keep is a musician, educator, researcher & sound designer with a wealth of professional & community arts experience. He has worked with high profile partners including BBC, Channel 4, Nike and MG. His sound work has also enabled him to collaborate internationally on projects in New York, Shenzhen, Memphis and Berlin. You can find him turning old junk into instruments or recording the sounds of the sky from a hot air balloon.

Simon also has a PGCE, is a practicing lecturer in Sonic Arts and is a trained Mental Health First Aider.

Frazer Merrick

Co-Founder

Frazer is a sound artist, educator and producer. His work focuses on collaboration, improvisation and interactivity, creating experiences that transform a space or object. Frazer has built an interactive piano from bananas, an instrument which listens to light and even played a gig under water. His work as been aired on BBC Radio 3 and 4, been played on Channel 4 and installed at various galleries.

Frazer is level 2 safeguarding trained and has received training in working with young people with autism spectrum condition.

What they've said about CLIP

Don't just take our word for it...

”A highly engaging workshop, providing something unique for the young people attending. Outstanding quality of youth work practice.

Paul PhillipsDistrict Based Youth & Community Commissioner, Essex Youth Service

”CLIP provide a really accessible, inclusive and tailored service. They are passionate in their approach to delivering workshops and patient to the different needs that present in the group. The CLIP team really encourage our service users to take creative risks which allows them to feel they have achieved and increases both their knowledge base and confidence.

Sonia ShaljeanFounder, Lads Need Dads

”[CLIP's] performance was one of my favourite things in the festival, and left me a sense of hope and peace.

Ranieri SpinaProducer, Yarmonics Festival

”May I thank you for your fantastic music experience you offered our young people this evening. Our young people loved the session which was evident in the way they participated.

Tony BrennanTargeted Youth Advisor, Essex Youth Service

”[CLIP] created such a relaxing but energetic atmosphere that felt like you could join in, contribute and have a go. We all need a regular dose of Clip in our lives!

Beth HullYouth Programmer, Firstsite

”99% of participants said the family workshop was excellent. 1% of participants said the workshop was good.

Laura DavisonLearning and Participation Leader, Roman River Music Festival

CLIP are supported by