Name Peter Garden
Title Head of Programmes
Organisation 4Children
t: 020 7512 2112;
e: peter.garden@4children.org.uk
How long in present post? 8 months
What does your organisation do? 4Children is a child-centred charity dedicated to the care, education and personal development of children. We are currently working with 47 local authorities and music/arts organisations to develop music making programmes. This has created opportunities for playworkers and local networks, whilst supporting sustainable music and arts programmes for out of school provision.
What does your job involve? Developing programmes across creative arts, health, physical activity and citizenship for children. Managing Come and Play, the music making initiative for out of school clubs supported by Youth Music.
Who did you used to work for and what did you do? I was Project Leader for Rockschool, managing projects and delivering music workshops in London schools. Prior to that I was a full-time musician touring across the UK and Europe.
What do you enjoy most about your present post? Developing new projects and seeing the impact on the ground.
What do you find most difficult in your present post? Not enough hours in the day!
Who has influenced your career to date the most? Hussein Boon, my lecturer at Westminster University, who was responsible for starting my career in music education ? and a great bloke!
If you could have done any job, what would it be? I?m doing it, but I wouldn?t mind being able to play the piano as well as Billy Joel!
If you had three wishes for the future of the arts, what would they be? A more joined-up approach between the formal music education sector and community music/arts organisations.
Access to a culturally diverse range of arts for all children and young people.
A greater awareness of the positive benefits the arts can have on us all.