Children and young people

Music organisations working with young people in Wales have been invited to apply for grants in the second round of a fund run Anthem - Music Fund Wales.

The Atsain fund aims to support youth music organisations to address and overcome specific barriers to music for young people in Wales. Eligible organisations can apply for grants of up to £10,000.

The first round of funding awarded a total of £120,000 to 15 organisations last year and created a collaborative network of beneficiaries to facilitate forums for sharing best practice.

“We’re already seeing young people connecting with music in new ways as a result of projects funded by the first round of Atsain,” said Rhian Hutchings, Chief Executive of Anthem.

“Our grantees are working with young people of all ages, helping them to build their confidence, explore their creativity and find pathways to potential future careers.”

Atsain’s Programme Manager Rebecca Rickard said the organisation welcomes “partnerships between organisations that focus on music, but also youth, community, disability, language, poverty, race and more”.

“It is through partnerships that organisations get a better understanding of the barriers young people face, and how to break them down,” she said.

Music college WaterBear has announced the launch of a new campus in Sheffield to open in September 2023.

The Brighton-based college for specialist music education teaches artists seeking to build long-term sustainable careers in the music industry. The new campus will offer BA (Hons) and MA courses.

“WaterBear has been on an incredible journey to date with four successful years providing first-class music education, enabling students to achieve a solid foundation for a sustainable career in the music industry,” said Chairman Terry Sweeney.

“We are now immensely looking forward to the next stage of our evolution in growing the WaterBear brand.” 

Co-founder of the college Adam Bushell said he felt strongly that music education “wasn’t keeping up” with the “huge changes” in the music industry over the last 20 years.

“We got together and thought we have to do another music college, and we have to make it about how things have changed, more about the independent, self-reliant, self-motivated DIY artist,” he said.

Follow co-founder Bruce John Dickinsonfrom Scarborough said “it feels like music education is coming home”.

“There’s a vibe in the city that you notice immediately when you come into the town, it feels like everything is coming together, it feels like a culture of relations - that’s already happening and we want to be a part of it.”
 
The launch event for the new campus featured performances from local Sheffield bands, as well as alumni of WaterBear’s Brighton campus. 

The Arts Council of Wales has announced the continuation of Cynefin: culturally and ethnically diverse Wales, a programme organised in partnership with the Welsh government.

The programme will expand to support a wider network of schools across Wales in devising and delivering creative collaborative projects.

Projects supported by the programme focus on areas including exploring identity in relation to growing up in Wales and understanding the history and development of the country as a culturally diverse society.

Other areas of focus include gaining awareness of the people, cultures and communities that make up contemporary Wales and exploring the past and present experiences and contributions of culturally and ethnic diverse people to the country.

The programme facilitates working directly with teachers to enhance the quality of teaching and learning. 

Arts Council Wales has put out a call for creative professionals from culturally and ethnically diverse backgrounds who want to work on the creative learning offer for schools within the network in either English or Welsh.

Professionals working in the arts, culture, heritage or creative industries are invited to apply until September 2 for an opportunity to develop their practices through the delivery of collaborative, creative projects in schools.

A redeveloped theatre and cultural centre will open in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire on 10 August.

Theatre Porto will be the only specialist, purpose-built theatre and culture centre for children and young people in Cheshire. Its name was decided on following consultation with local young people, based on the ideas of child-centredness, place and playfulness.

Previously called Action Transport Theatre, the cultural space reopens after a £2.8m development project funded by Cheshire West and Cheshire Council and Arts Council England.

It features a 150-seat auditorium, rehearsal rooms, workshop rooms, a temporary gallery, spaces for artists and a café. 

“We provide a welcoming and accessible space for all children and young people, to tap into their creativity and potential,” said Artistic Director Nina Hajiyianni.

“Our mission is to champion their ideas and creativity and at the same time, create opportunities for adults to rediscover their sense of curiosity and playfulness." 
 

The BIMM Institute has become BIMM University after being granted full university status by the Department of Education. 

The newly named university was founded in 1983 as Drumtech. It now comprises of a collection of colleges including BIMM Institute, offering courses in music, the Institute for Contemporary Theatre, Performer College and Northern Ballet School, all offering courses in performing arts, and the Screen and Film School, offering courses in film and TV.

Between the colleges, the university will have campuses across Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Essex and Manchester.

“This is a tremendous accolade for our institution,” said Adam Carswell, CEO and Head of Institution. “It is the culmination of a long journey to develop the educational character of our institution, together with our academic processes and corporate governance.”

Professor Louise Jackson, Academic Director and Provost, said that being awarded university status “is the most significant moment of recognition for an institution of higher education, and it builds upon decades of endeavour”. 

“More than ever the world needs specialist universities that do not just conserve the past but develop new artistic practices and outputs to help us engage in myriad ways with what it means to be human,” she added. 

“I cannot describe how thrilled I am that BIMM University, now recognised as an equal to other distinguished seats of learning, will continue to lead the way across all our art forms.”

The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the National Open Youth Orchestra (NOYO) have announced the launch of the Cardiff NOYO Centre, a pioneering inclusive ensemble to allow talented young disabled and non-disabled musicians to rehearse and perform together.

The partnership offers the first progression route for talented young disabled musicians in the region. It aims to reduce musical exclusion and develop skills while increasing sector support.

NOYO is the world's first disabled-led national youth ensemble open to both young disabled and non-disabled musicians. The project aims to lay the foundations for a more diverse orchestral sector.

“Musical talent and potential are everywhere, but opportunities for young disabled people to progress in music are not,” said Barry Farrimond-Chuong MBE, CEO of Open Up Music, the charity behind NOYO. 

“We are extremely excited to be working with Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and BBC National Orchestra of Wales to expand the National Open Youth Orchestra and open up music to more young disabled musicians.”

Instruments played by NOYO musicians include the LinnStrument, Seaboard RISE and Clarion, an accessible instrument that can be played with any movement of the body, including the eyes. 

The centre will begin taking applications for auditions from disabled and non-disabled musicians aged 11 to 25 in March next year, with rehearsals due to begin in September 2023. Participation will be free and will include monthly rehearsals and one-to-one tuition.

“There aren’t other youth orchestras who are as passionate about showing disabled people can play on the same stages as non-disabled people,” said NOYO harpist Holli Pandit.

“Lots of the music we play, you wouldn't really get that in a stereotypical classical music concert – you wouldn’t have the instruments! We believe that it's best if disabled and non-disabled musicians can integrate together, and then we can come up with fresh new ideas and be more creative.”