MUSIC-making for young people across Teesside has been given a big boost after music organisation musinc was awarded a large grant by The National Foundation for Youth Music.
The national charity is giving £160,000 this year with further grants of up to £304,500 being made available over the following two years.
Hosted by Middlesbrough Council Cultural Services on behalf of the four Teesside local authorities, musinc is part of the Teesside Music Education Hub Partnership
musinc focuses on vulnerable and hard to reach young people in the local authority areas of Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool and Redcar and Cleveland who are facing significant challenges in their lives.
The new programme launches with the ‘Ignition’ fund, which provides opportunities for youth groups and schools to start to work with musicians.
Over the coming three years, musinc will develop and commission a range of music activities which will enable all young people, irrespective of background or personal circumstances, to take part in life changing music-making.
Musicians and youth workers will also be able to develop their skills through the Teesside Musical Inclusion Network which will be enabling professionals from the youth and art sectors to share their expertise and good practice.
Youth Music Chief Executive Officer Matt Griffiths said: “We’re really delighted to be working with musinc, led by Middlesbrough Council, as one of our strategic partners to deliver an exciting programme of music-making opportunities for vulnerable children and young people across Teesside.
“We hope they will all benefit from taking part.”
Musical Inclusion Development Officer Gwyneth Lamb added: “In the last three years musinc has reached over 500 young people across Teesside who are living in challenging circumstances.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the network of musicians and youth and arts organisations in the area to enable young people to grow and develop through music.”