London-Hammersmith. NICOLA, New International Company for Live Arts, is a not-for-profit organisation designed to help young artists to improve their skills and help them being recognised in the artistic sphere. In 2009, NICOLA created the Talent Factory, which has a system similar to the X Factor program except that it provides a long term training and marketing/business advices to the selected artists. After organising a really successful showcase last february, NICOLA decided to organise more of those. During one week, the winners of the Talent Factory were gathered with other artists from five other countries: Bulgaria (through Different Vision), France (through French Touch), Holland (through Studio West), Italy (through E Cammurrist) and Poland (through European Meeting Centre - Nowy Staw Foundation).

The Talent Factory Project, Music Connection, funded by the European Commission and the British Council and supported by two celebrities, Sadie Flower and Emmanuel Ray, aimed at bringing people from different countries and background to all come together, learn about the origins and evolution of music and share their passion.

The outcome of the international gathering was shown to us last night at a showcase where all the participants had to perform their own creations which would reflect their own identities and cultural influences.

At the beginning they were still doing the soundcheck, and the atmosphere was exciting standing together with the talent of all the performers. Minutes later there were dancers from the Rio Carnival along with drummers at the door to welcome the spectators and within the room you had a painter painting live. The show started by the “guest” countries performing their creations one after the other.

The music was ranging from RAP to Rock passing by beatbox and A Capella music. After it was the turn of the Nicola Talent Factory artists to perform, and let me tell you something, you can be sure that sooner or later, we are going to buy the CDs and concert tickets of some of those artists.

The last part of the show was all the youngsters coming on stage and singing what they have written during the past week. It was three hours of music, art in a background that was really friendly and welcoming. Despite some sound troubles all the artists were really professional and high-skilled, especially if we think that some of them were only 13 years old.

• http://nicolaforyouth.org/
• http://www.facebook.com/NICOLA.Arts