The China residency of the 2025–2026 Musicians in Residence programme, jointly initiated by the British Council and PRS Foundation, has successfully concluded. Hosted by Modern Sky, Manchester-based artist SCAPA spent 14 days in Beijing participating in an intensive programme of artistic research, collaboration, and cultural exchange.
Throughout the residency, SCAPA immersed herself in China’s contemporary music ecosystem, beginning with a visit to Strawberry Music Festival before collaborating with producers, engineers, and artists across Modern Sky’s creative network. Working alongside artists including Demone, Howie Lee, and Radiax, she explored new approaches to electronic music production, studio practice, and sound design while exchanging ideas with local musicians in a shared creative environment.
The programme also provided opportunities to experience China’s evolving live music infrastructure. At 1919 Livehouse, SCAPA explored the venue’s L-ISA immersive sound system, discussing the creative possibilities of spatial audio with local sound engineers. Rather than relying solely on language, many of the residency’s most meaningful exchanges took place through music-making itself—sharing studio techniques, production workflows, and artistic perspectives across cultures.
The residency concluded with a public showcase performance in Beijing, bringing together musicians, industry professionals, media representatives, and guests from the British Embassy in China and the British Council. More than a final performance, the event celebrated two weeks of creative dialogue and marked the beginning of new artistic relationships and future collaborations between the UK and China.
As the Chinese host organisation, Modern Sky, together with its YOUNGBLOOD programme, coordinated the residency through artist liaison, creative programming, and connections with the local music community. By creating opportunities for meaningful collaboration beyond touring and performance, the residency reflects Modern Sky’s ongoing commitment to supporting international cultural exchange and fostering long-term dialogue between artists from different backgrounds.
