Media release: Call out for applications: £1.3million for young people to access music-making activities

YOUNG people across Scotland will enjoy access to high-quality music-making opportunities – thanks to £1.3million funding from the Youth Music Initiative (YMI).

Applications open today for two funds as part of the YMI programme which aims to put music at the heart of young people’s lives and learning, and to contribute to Scotland becoming an international leader in youth arts.

YMI currently supports in excess of 300 Scottish based projects each year, covering all musical genres, age groups and teaching methods and reaches over 240,000 young people aged 0-25 years.

The Access to Music-Making Fund is all about creating access to music-making opportunities outwith school time for organisations and individuals, applicants can apply for funding between £1k – £40k for projects lasting up to two years.

Projects previously supported through this fund include Hit the Road, a touring project for young musicians and songwriters aged between 14 and 19.

Hit the Road offered talented young musicians invaluable experience of the live music industry by offering them the opportunity to perform to real audiences, with support from Scottish music industry professionals.

The open-access youth street band, Brass Blast, established by Oi Musica, also received support through the Access to Music-Making Fund. Based in east Edinburgh, the project provides free or affordable tuition in brass and drums and aims to broaden participation in music amongst those from low-income households.

The Strengthening Youth Music Fund provides grants of between £1k – £20k for projects lasting up to two years which aim to improve Scotland’s youth music infrastructure and services.

This fund has previously supported the 2017 Music Education Matters conference as well as Sense Scotland Sensatronic Flexi-Lab. The project involved the research and development of an affordable and accessible digital music creation kit for young people.

The deadline for applications to both funds is Monday 13 January 2020.

Morag Macdonald, Youth Music Initiative manager, said: “Creative Scotland is committed to creative learning and ensuring that everyone can access and enjoy creative experiences. YMI makes a real positive difference in supporting young people to develop their music making and skills for life, learning and work. Helping over 240,000 young people each year to access high-quality music-making opportunities, YMI has has a huge impact and is an integral part of Scotland’s music education and youth music ecology.”

Notes for editors:

1. YMI fund guidance and application forms can be accessed here.

2. YMI has two distinct strands:

• School-based music-making: activities planned and delivered by Local Authorities. Local authorities apply to the YMI Formula Fund for this activity

• The informal sector: activities planned and delivered outwith school time. There are two informal sector funding routes: Access to Music-Making and Strengthening Youth Music. Organisations and individuals can apply to these funding routes.

3. The 2019-20 YMI Annual Plan sets out plans for the programme including a programme of work, funding and development priorities, budgets and how we will report on impact.

4. Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. We enable people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. We distribute funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. www.creativescotland.com. Follow us @creativescots and www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland

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Contact: Claire Thomson
Phone: 01413021708
Email: claire.thomson@creativescotland.com
Website: http://www.creativescotland.com