introducing

Old Jet Airspace Programme

What

The Old Jet Airspace Programme is a comprehensive six-month incubation programme that provides carefully selected artists, musicians and writers with…

  • Free studio space
  • Bespoke mentoring
  • Professional development programmes

…all within the supportive and inclusive environment of Old Jet Arts Centre.

Esmee Lee Scott

“Access to gear, advice and mentoring is something we wouldn’t have had without the programme.

It broke down the barriers between wanting to do something and knowing how to do it.”

Esme Lee Scott
of Esme Emerson

Emma Sampson

“ The Airspace programme is a
shining light for grassroots artists like me. Airspace has helped me develop as a musician by providing the tools and knowledge to deepen my understanding of production and composition, and the care and support to grow as an artist.

It is incredible that it exists and
I really hope that it continues to champion young creatives in the future.”

Emma Sampson
AKA Flores Blue

“ The business skills, market
information and curation skills, alongside the confidence I’ve gained is phenomenal.

The workshops, tutorials and conversations have made the artworld much more accessible to me, and it’s been exhilarating to learn.

I’m now learning to apply these skills to promote myself, my practice and my work as a personal brand. ”

Mel Perkins
Fine artist

“Access to gear, advice and mentoring is something we wouldn’t have had without the programme.

It broke down the barriers between wanting to do something and knowing how to do it.”

Esme Lee Scott
of Esme Emerson

“ The Airspace programme is a
shining light for grassroots artists like me. Airspace has helped me develop as a musician by providing the tools and knowledge to deepen my understanding of production and composition, and the care and support to grow as an artist.

It is incredible that it exists and
I really hope that it continues to champion young creatives in the future.”

Emma Sampson
AKA Flores Blue

“ The business skills, market
information and curation skills, alongside the confidence I’ve gained is phenomenal.

The workshops, tutorials and conversations have made the artworld much more accessible to me, and it’s been exhilarating to learn.

I’m now learning to apply these skills to promote myself, my practice and my work as a personal brand. ”

Mel Perkins
Fine artist

THE STORY SO FAR

Since launching Old Jet in 2014, Jesse has supported emerging artists and musicians
who have faced career barriers by providing free studio space and integrating them into the Old Jet community.

Inspired by the success of this support, Jesse formalised this initiative by setting up the non-profit organisation, ROJA Arts CIC, in November 2021.

To date, five musical acts and three visual artists have completed the Old Jet Airspace Programme.

Esme Emerson, the first band to undertake the programme, has since landed a significant recording contract and a major sponsorship opportunity with Dr. Martens. The young sibling duo are soon to embark on their first headline UK tour.

Early participant, the fine artist Darren Lynde Mann, saw his work featured in the Marlborough Gallery’s 2023 exhibition, ‘A Celebration of Portraiture’, alongside works by Lucien Freud, Francis Bacon and Maggi Hambling

The CIC’s first initiative, the Old Jet Airspace Programme, raised over £10,000 through a proactive crowdfunding campaign within two weeks of its launch in June 2022.

In addition to their own fundraising, over £31,000 in grants were secured from
national organisations and local Trusts and Foundations.

With additional backing from Youth Music and the Post Code Lottery, the first open call for participants launched
in October 2022.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

Esme Emerson

Esme Emerson is a BritishChinese brother-sister duo whose music, according to Dazed magazine, is “redefining indie pop”.

Emma Sampson

Emma Sampson, aka Flores Blue, is a singer songwriter who creates indie dream-pop inspired by 90s alternative rock.

Alice Crane

Alice Crane is a visual artist who explores ideas around trauma and disability.

Joe Gray

The mission of musician Joe Gray is to make what he describes as ‘future sounds’. In his case, that’s ‘next generation R&B and dubstep’.

Mel Perkins

Mel Perkins is a multidisciplinary artist whose work sits between sculpture and painting, questioning the relationship
between two and three dimensions.

Denise Atkinson

Denise Atkinson is a multifaceted, experimental artist eliciting visceral, visual responses to her work.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

Artists applying for the programme are required to meet the following criteria:

  • Be a UK resident
  • Have a BA or equivalent experience
  • Feel that they face a career barrier of some kind*

* Including financial hardship, rural isolation and/or underrepresentation in the arts owing to ethnic background, socio-economic background, disability status or other protected characteristics.

Music Room

AIRSPACE STUDIOS

Having piloted the programme with seven new artists, the next step was to complete work on the first dedicated Airspace Studio.

The need for an exclusive-use studio space for the Airspace programme was derived from the high demand for participation in the scheme and a lack of permanent available space within Old Jet’s premises.

To address this need, we consulted with a steering group of local artists and BCR Infinity Architects to identify the most impactful and cost-effective solution.

The vision is to construct a number of new studios from repurposed shipping containers that will sit adjacent to Old Jet.

The units are both affordable and adaptable to accommodate a variety of artistic disciplines, and will also stand a testament to Suffolk’s shipping history.

Thanks to the funding from East Suffolk Council, the crowdfunding campaign and a
number of donations from local Trusts and Foundations, the first unit was built and
delivered in May 2025.

This first Airspace studio will support the careers of multiple visual artists and musicians over the coming years by providing beneficiaries with free working space and community integration at Old Jet.

NEXT STEPS AND COSTS

Having piloted the programme and built the first studio, the next steps are to:

  • Secure funding to deliver more Airspace programmes to new visual artists and musicians.
  • The mentoring and professional development costs start from £4,345 per artist.
  • Secure funding to build more Airspace studios.
  • The cost of building each new studio is £29,938.
Music Room

HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT

There are a number of ways you can support the programme, including:

  • Making a donation: A donation of any amount will help Airspace work towards its goals and continue serving its community. Additional financial benefits can be explored by donating through the Charities Aid Foundation.
  • Becoming a friend of the programme: Receive exclusive quarterly insights from the programme, place your logo or name on our Friends area of the website and choose an open edition print from one of the artists. £250 / year.
  • Purchasing or leasing original artwork from Old Jet Gallery: Browse and collect exclusive work by established artists. 100% of sales commission goes to funding the Airspace programme. Prices range from £30 - £10,000.
  • Developing your art and music portfolio by paying to engage with the Airspace programme: Receive bespoke mentoring, arrange time in the music studio with a producer, engage with photoshoots or hone your marketing and sales strategy. Prices range from £250 to £4,950.
  • Sponsoring an artist, studio or project: Meet participating artists to follow their process and progress first-hand, explore press release and photo opportunities, receive brand exposure to our 10,000+ online community of artists, musicians and professionals from across the arts, collect original artwork or equivalent from participating artists and gain access-all-areas invitations to the artist’s exhibitions and gigs. Sponsorships start from £2,500.

tHE tEAM

Jesse Quin

JESSE QUIN

FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR

Jesse is a musician who grew up in Suffolk, and is best known for his work with the multi-platinum selling British band, Keane.

Oliver Squirrell

OLIVER SQUIRRELL

AIRSPACE MANAGER

Oliver is a professional artist manager and mentor with over 10 years fundraising and management experience.

Consuela Fontan

CONSUELA FONTAN

OLD JET GENERAL MANAGER

Consuela is former headhunter in the not-forprofit, arts, educational and commercial sectors.

Andy Stone

ANDY STONE

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Andy is the founder of Adventures in Content, a Suffolk creative agency working in tech, automotive and entertainment.

OUR NATIONAL FUNDERS

  • Youth Music
  • Arts Council England
  • Innovate UK
Old Jet HQ

TRUSTS AND FOUNDATIONS

  • The Scarfe Charitable Trust
  • Ganzoni Charitable Trust
  • Lord Belstead Charitable Settlement
  • Alfred Williams Charitable Trust
  • Geoffrey Watling Charity
  • Festival Bridge
  • Simon Gibson Charitable Trust
  • East Suffolk Council
  • KFC Foundation
  • Joanies Fund
  • Nuclear Restoration Services

INDIVIDUAL DONORS AND SPONSORS

  • Richard Curtis
  • Alastair Bartlett
  • Alan Wilkinson
  • Jade McFarland
  • Elizabeth Musson
  • Emma Khangaroot
  • Nancy Topscher
  • Stephen William Hodd
  • Leah B Salt
  • Nancy Paulette
  • David Pink
  • Julian Dean
  • Dide Siemmond
  • Grace Hailstone
  • Martin Bailie
  • Lara Hunter-Rodwell
  • Eleanor Maycock
  • Will Simpson
  • Martin McDonald
  • Peter Miller
  • Emma Scott
  • Richard Boland
  • Cenzo Townshend
  • Leah B Salt
  • Nancy Paulette
  • Martin McDonald
  • Peter Miller
  • Meryem Siemmond
  • Prisca Gnanwo
  • Morgan Moore
  • John Carrington
  • Pierre G Monticolombi
  • Francois Botha
  • Suzanna Pickering
  • Matthew McGuchan
  • Alison Mudd
  • Damian Ferrar
  • Becky Bloomfield
  • Bolands
  • Prisca Gnanwo
  • Sarah Reed
  • Andy Stone
  • Becky Bloomfield
  • Esme Pears
  • Cindy Hartley
  • Laura Cannell
  • Julie Field
  • Richard Boland
  • Brie Harrison
  • Nancy Topscher
  • Harriet Camille-Todd
  • Caroline Poole
  • Lara Hunter-Rodwell
  • Will Simpson
  • Rebecca Gander
  • Louisa Yorke
  • Ute Schicha
  • Lisa Berkshire
  • Patience Davenport
  • 15+ Anonymous Donors

IN-KIND SUPPORTERS

  • Suffolk Mind
  • BCR Infinity Architects
  • Larking Gowen
  • Affinity PR
  • Yeseo

CONFIRMED EDUCATIONAL SUPPORTERS

  • University of East Anglia
  • Norwich University of the Arts
  • University of Suffolk

support us

become a sponsor

BY CHOOSING TO SUPPORT THIS PIONEERING NOT-FOR-PROFIT PROGRAMME YOU WILL BE INVESTING IN THE FUTURES OF DOZENS OF DESERVING CREATIVE TALENTS OVER THE COMING YEARS WHILST ALSO HELPING TO AMPLIFY THE REGION’S STATUS AS A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO OUR COUNTRY’S ILLUSTRIOUS CREATIVE CULTURE.

Download the Sponsorship Pack
airspace

contact

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Contact Oliver at Old Jet to discuss supporting the programme OLIVER@OLDJET.CO.UK

Email

HOW TO APPLY TO THE PROGRAMME AS AN ARTIST

Are you a new visual artist or musician with a BA or equivalent who is working towards establishing a professional artist career? If so, email oliver@oldjet.co.uk for details of how to apply to the programme.

HOW TO APPLY TO THE PROGRAMME AS AN ARTIST

ROJA ARTS CIC is the not-for-profit arm of Old Jet and is responsible for managing the Airspace Programme. The CIC serves talented new and emerging artists who are working towards establishing their career in the arts. ROJA ARTS CIC provides its community with access to free studio space, equipment, mentoring, professional development activities and community integration at Old Jet.