News / Bristol Beacon
Bristol Beacon to lead new musical education hub for young people
One of Bristol’s flagship venues has been appointed to lead a new musical education programme for young people across the West of England.
The recently reopened Bristol Beacon will receive almost £2m (£1,933,874) from the Department for Education to run one of seven hubs across the country and work with schools, community groups and local authorities across the region to connect children with its artistic offering.
The historic venue, which has has undergone a £132m transformation, has been appointed to lead the West of England hub by the Arts Council England, in collaboration with the West of England Music and Arts (WEMA).
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The programme will start in September and is part of the government’s new national plan for music education that will see £9.4m invested in the new music hubs.
A key part of the Beacon’s role will be to ensure that more young people with special educational needs and disabilities have access to an excellent music education and the opportunity to progress.
Adam Kent, director of creative learning & engagement at Bristol Beacon, said: “Through the current music hub arrangements, we are already delivering our citywide music education programme in around 92 per cent of Bristol’s schools, benefitting over 30,000 children and young people.
“Access to music can create a lifelong love of music, create joy and aspiration and, of course, it feeds the UK’s future talent pipeline. We believe all young people should have the opportunity to engage in musical experiences – from learning instruments to participating in and watching live performances – and we have a strong focus on reaching everyone, with dedicated programmes to support young people with special educational needs and disabilities and those that are in or have experience of the care system.
“We’re absolutely delighted to have been chosen to lead the new West of England hub and look forward to working in partnership with West of England Music and Arts and reaching even more young people through our programme. This important work could not happen without this vital public funding, for which we are extremely grateful.”
The Beacon intends to spend £1,455,692 of the £2m fund to coordinate music education in the local area, plus £478,183 to invest in new musical instruments, equipment and technology tailored to the needs of children and young people
The plan is to connect young people in the region with the music industry through access to professional musicians and performances.
The recently reopened Bristol Beacon will receive almost £2m (£1,933,874) from the Department for Education to run one of seven hubs across the country – photo: Bristol Beacon
Speaking about the importance of music education, a 16-year-old violin player with Bristol Youth Orchestra says: “The Beacon ensembles have really opened all my doors, as they gave me my first experience with the orchestral repertoire and ensemble playing that I have now completely fallen in love with and immersed myself in since.
“The proficiency it has given me in sight reading and musical competency at an early age has opened doors to the Bristol Pre-conservatoire and National Children’s Orchestra. The generosity of Beacon tutors has allowed me to learn and experience orchestral conducting [and] had it not been for Bristol Youth Orchestra, I may never have had the chance to explore at such an early stage in my musical journey.”
Phil Gibby, South West area director at Arts Council England, said the programme will help “a new generation of talent sing, compose and play their way to a more inclusive future”.
Gibby added that on top of the £9.4m spent nationally on the seven new music hubs, a further £3m will be allocated to boost access to industry-spec technology and equipment, helping to raise ambitions and remove barriers to music.
Sandra Meadows MBE, vice chair of Bristol Beacon’s board of trustees, said: “Being appointed as one of the new regional music education hubs is a real honour and recognition of the fantastic work Bristol Beacon’s music education team has been delivering over the last few years.
“The team works tirelessly to reach young people from all backgrounds and abilities across the city and now has an amazing new cultural base in the transformed education spaces in the venue that will open up music and create incredible opportunities for even more young people.”
Main photo: Bristol Beacon
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