MAP Charity & the transformative power of culture – interview with co-founder Tom Smith

Cosmic Slop Dancefloor. Credit: Luka @wheel_deal_luka

On a crisp Friday afternoon, I met Tom Smith, project director and co-founder of MAP Charity, at their vibrant building in Mabgate, Leeds. Though new to Mabgate, the area’s changes — from a relocated bus stop to the faded signage of The Black Horse pub — felt oddly familiar to me as a resident of Leeds for nearly 3 years. Amidst the hustle of construction workers and a sense of evolving surroundings, MAP stood out to me as a beacon of hope.

MAP, short for Music and Arts Production, is a Leeds based non-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing creative education to young people who lack access elsewhere. Characterised by its holistic approaches to education and emphasis on the importance of creative skills, MAP seeks to bridge the gap between aspiring young artists and professional creatives, through hosting a range of music and arts events as well as inviting local creatives to use their workspaces. Founded almost two decades ago with co-founders Charlie Stobbart and Kat Soutar, MAP aims to provide young people with all the tools they need to lead successful careers and lives. Tom also shared how the founders deliberately chose their building in Mabgate when they established MAP Charity in 2007. At the time, the area was significantly underdeveloped, and they believed it offered a unique opportunity to drive real change from that position.

After a tour of the classrooms and Hope House itself, I sat down for a chat with Tom in one of MAP’s music production spaces.

Surrounded by vinyl pressing machinery and screen-printing equipment, I asked Tom about what inspired him to found MAP charity. Whilst the other founders came from digital arts and education-based backgrounds, Tom, an alumnus of Leeds Conservatoire, shared his vision of using music as a catalyst for social change. He believes that music has the power to uplift individuals from underrepresented communities and serve as a tool to convey important messages to those in power. This passion gave rise to Cosmic Slop, MAP’s in-house music fundraiser, where local and international musicians and DJs perform to support the charity. Cosmic Slop is celebrated for its hand-built, state-of-the-art sound system, hailed by musician and supporter Floating Points as “the greatest… in the world”. Having raised over a million for the charity, Cosmic Slop is MAP’s primary source of income and a well-loved event by the community.

Sunflower Soundsytem with Floating Points. Credits Luka @wheel_deal_luka

Today, a shadow has been cast over Cosmic Slop’s future. Global Investment fund Cheyne Capital has applied for planning permissions for a block of over 300 flats next door to Hope House. If the development goes ahead without the charity’s input, it faces the threat of closure due to noise restrictions. Tom explained how an outside planning application was made in 2022 by a different firm, with size and usage of the area being granted, but now the current outline planning application from Cheyne Capital would install balconies in some of the flats that overlook the outside part of the event space. He went on to emphasise the need for a building design with a good acoustic barrier, so that the new residents and Cosmic Slop may coexist peacefully.

Tom also mentioned that the charity have received legal backing from barrister Sarah Clover, which has given them confidence to state their desires in face of this threat on MAP’s livelihood. MAP have obtained an identical events license for 17 years, which allows them to host Cosmic Slop and raise money peacefully, and have not received any public complaints or concerns regarding their events until this year. “We’ve always welcomed development to the area,” Tom clarified, “We welcomed change when the flats across the street were built. But this is just so close, it needs doing properly.”

MAP stresses the need to prioritise function over saleability or architectural aesthetic, and for the council to respect what has existed in this space for nearly twenty years now. Tom calls for ‘applied common sense’ from Leeds City Council, whilst acknowledging the council’s recent support and gracious funding of 1.2m to refurbish MAP’s building. Tom’s concern is to not ‘trample over previous work done’ to support MAP, by allowing the planned building works to go ahead as they currently exist.

Cosmic Slop Team – Will and Mayassa. Credits Luka @wheel_deal_luka

On our way back to Hope House, we ran into a former volunteer who just so happened to be driving past. The former volunteer expressed amazement at how MAP has continued to thrive and remain in the same area, despite all the changes that have taken place in Leeds over the past decade. After the encounter, a teary-eyed Tom confided in me how lucky he felt to have such a vibrant and connected community of volunteers and supporters for the charity. In response to being asked why MAP is so crucial to its community, Tom simply stated that MAP provides a unique educational service for young people who need it the most.

Cosmic Slop Panel Talk – Al, Charlie Dark, Sam Don. Credits Luka @wheel_deal_luka

Through establishing the education to profession pipeline, MAP gives young people hope for their futures, particularly in creative careers. The professionals that use the spaces act as examples to MAP students that a future exists for them in the creative industries, and through the opportunities MAP gives them, they feel able to access it.

MAP will be hosting a number of Cosmic Slop campaigning events throughout September, all of which you can find tickets and further information about in their Linktree. The next event will be on Friday 13th September, which will feature Blacktronika’s Charlie Dark alongside Dean Bryce and BOSSdaddy.

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To support MAP and help save Cosmic Slop, you can sign this petition advocating for a Deed of Easement, which requires developers to consider noise from Cosmic Slop and protects Hope House from complaints. If you’re in Leeds, you can also write to your local ward councillor, informing them of the necessary actions and equipping them with the tools to effect change.