THE BRIT Trust, the BPI’s charitable arm which distributes funds raised through the BRIT Awards and Music Industry Trust (MITs) to charities and good causes that promote education and wellbeing through music, is delighted to announce a donation of £314,000 to ELAM (East London Arts & Music).
The money will be used to build a theatre within ELAM’s new state-of-the-art campus facility in Bromley-by-Bow, East London, due to open in March 2017.
ELAM is currently located in Stratford, East London, and is a full-time industry academy that is free to 16-19 year-olds interested in pursuing a career in music, film and TV production, games design or music and media promotion.
The academy was jointly founded in 2013 by Will Kennard – also known as one half of English electronic production duo, Chase & Status – and his brother, Charlie Kennard, who is the school’s principal.
ELAM has enjoyed widespread support from a UK music industry keen to see it flourish since – ranging from artists, managers and producers to music associations such as the BPI and record labels, including Universal Music UK, which has established a close working relationship with the school’s students through its masterclass, mentoring and trainee programme.
The popularity of the academy has seen it outgrow its current Stratford base, however, and the improved facilities at nearby Bromley-by-Bow, including the new theatre to be funded by the BRIT Trust, will enable the sixth-form school to cater to over 300 students in London and the South-East keen to pursue a career in music and the creative industries.
John Craig OBE, BRIT Trust chair, comments: “It’s vital that music and the creative arts are allowed to contribute to our children’s wellbeing and education – not only to support the continuing success of British music, but because it will also benefit society as a whole.
“We need much more music education, not less, which is why the BRIT Trust has been such a keen supporter of the BRIT School over the years, and why we now also want to encourage the fantastic work of ELAM.
“We’re proud to make this donation to fund the academy’s new theatre, and hope that it will help inspire a new generation of talent.”
Will Kennard, ELAM co-founder and governor, comments: “We’re so excited by ELAM’s imminent move to the new campus in Bromley-by-Bow, and by the prospect of this new theatre that will act as a flagship to the state-of-the-art facilities we are planning for the site.
“We are hugely grateful to The BRIT Trust, and to the record labels and the music community that support its work, for this generous funding that will open up a world of possibilities for our students and help them to flourish.”
Geoff Taylor, BPI and BRIT Awards chief executive and ELAM governor, adds: “The BPI has been an enthusiastic supporter of ELAM from the very beginning.
“We believe that creativity is one of the country’s vital assets and that we should help young people of all backgrounds who have a passion for music and creativity to find their way to a fulfilling career.
“ELAM and other creative schools like The BRIT School have a critical role to play in inspiring and nurturing this talent.
“So I am delighted that The BRIT Trust is underlining our industry’s commitment to music education by making this major investment in the Academy and in the future of its students.”
ENDS
Enquiries
Gennaro Castaldo gennaro.castaldo@bpi.co.uk +44 (0)20 7803 1326
Notes to editors:
Pictures show L to R Charlie Kennard, ELAM co-founder and principal; BRIT Trust chair, John Craig OBE (presenting a cheque for £314,000 to ELAM); and co-founder and governor, Will Kennard.
Please photo credit John Marshall, JME
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