Chetham’s School of Music to be a key partner in the new music education hub for Manchester, which will be in place from August 2012.
Arts Council England announced today (4 May 2012) the nationwide network of 122 music education hubs that will play a key role in ensuring that every child has the opportunity to experience a high quality music education.
The new music education hubs will provide significantly improved opportunities for all young people to benefit from high quality musical experiences, regardless of where they live, and will see a significant shift in the way music education has been delivered to date, both in and out of school.
Organisations, including schools, professional music organisations, higher and further education institutions and other Arts Council funded organisations working in a local area will be coming together to create joined up music education provision for children and young people.
Nine Greater Manchester authorities have joined together to form a Greater Manchester music hub, and Manchester City will have its own hub. The aim of this work is to ensure that every child aged 5-18 has the opportunity to sing and learn a musical instrument, to progress to the next level, and play with other children as part of an ensemble or choir.
The application from nine Greater Manchester authorities who have established a formal partnership between themselves, will see the internationally-renowned Chetham’s School of Music working alongside other world-class organisations including BBC Philharmonic, Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester Camerata and the Halle, to build upon a history of collaborative working across Greater Manchester, and is one of the notable examples of partnership working.
Alan Davey, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, said: "The Arts Council’s goal is to make sure that children and young people have the opportunity to experience the richness of the arts, as set out in Achieving great art for everyone. After a robust application process, we look forward to working with music education hubs to enhance and develop music education provision across the country and to seeing them become a part of the cultural education offered to children and young people at a local level, and as part of the wider cultural landscape.
Many applicants clearly illustrated how they have realised the vision of the National Plan for Music Education. Their plans include new approaches to partnership working, and innovative thinking about their business models, including plans to work with others to develop, draw together and maximise resources for music education for the benefit of children."
Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: "All children, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances, should have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and to play and sing with others. I welcome the Art Council’s announcement of the nationwide network of music hubs. They form an integral part of our national plan for music education. Over the coming years, these hubs will help countless children to discover and develop their musical talent."
Culture Minister Ed Vaizey said: "These hubs will mean young people around the country can access high quality music teaching, itself an important and fulfilling part of learning. Playing an instrument can enrich students’ lives and perhaps even lead to a career in teaching or performing. The Hubs will help ensure that all young people have the chance to become involved in an activity that is both challenging and highly rewarding."
A number of hubs will be asked to develop their plans further in the coming months. The Arts Council will encourage and promote on-going partnership development, and for hubs to raise the bar of aspiration, quality, and progression across all hubs. This will be done in order to make sure the quality of the experience for young people will be high. Music education hubs will be in place from August 2012, in order to deliver activity from September 2012.
