by Carl Rose
NonStop is a community arts organisation specialising in nurturing the creative talents of individuals and groups through training and support.
Based on Rutland Road, they are just a hop and a skip away from all Burngreave residents.
NonStop aim to help artists earn a living from their creative skills. They offer accredited training in activities ranging from music production, photography, and break-dancing to business skills, web design and event management.
Reaching out to those who may have come from disadvantaged backgrounds, they promote positive participation from all communities.
NonStop differ from other arts organisations because they are easy to approach. The team were welcoming when I met them and I felt instantly at ease.
Uniquely, everything they produce feels cutting edge, showing they have their roots firmly fixed in urban culture.
The NonStop Foundation was registered as a not-for-profit company in 1999, but have been around in various forms since the late eighties. It began as ‘Too Damn Kreative’, the crew won a Prince’s Trust award to help develop the talents of graffiti artists, break-dancers and urban music promoters. They now have a busy schedule showcasing local talent, holding numerous accredited training courses and preparing for their annual 3DOM Festival.
Managing to squeeze me in for a chat, John Tuxman, Marketing Co-ordinator at NonStop, told me of the many highlights of the year. He told me how, through the help of NonStop, six young hopefuls from across Sheffield have been nominated for the BBC’s Urban Music Bursary. They could win a year-long £10,000 bursary and expert training and advice from the music industry’s leading figures.
Burngreave’s own Natasha McFarlane, 25, a solo artist specialising in singing and street dancing, has been nominated. For the past ten years Natasha (pictured above right) has collaborated with other artists to produce R&B, Soul, Pop, Hip Hop and Garage music. As part of NonStop’s ongoing training, Natasha and other artists from their Cultural Development Programme (CDP) are currently being showcased at all of the community festivals around Sheffield, culminating in a live performance at their 3DOM Festival.
Whilst at the Foundation I met some of the artists currently performing in the citywide talent showcase. Involved with NonStop for three years, Liam Wild aka ‘Rogue State’ said, “I’ve been making tunes since I was fourteen. Through NonStop I’ve had the opportunity to hook up with other musicians and producers. They’re really easy to approach and have been very helpful.”
Chipping in on the conversation, Brad Morton, aka ‘Bullitz’, bigged up everyone who has helped him at NonStop. “I have learnt MIDI sequencing and sampling on the CDP. In the future I hope to run my own record company to help support and promote unsigned artists.”
It seems that by harnessing young talent, the NonStop Foundation is giving those who want it the support for a successful and interesting future.