Funding will help to support a broad and inclusive music education
Young people in Tower Hamlets will benefit from increased music opportunities after two successful funding bids, totalling £49k.
£40,000 has been awarded to Mayflower Primary School, John Scurr Primary School and Oaklands Secondary School by Restore the Music UK.
The funding will help to ensure that pupils have access to the instruments and equipment required to support a broad and inclusive music education.
£9,000 has also been awarded to Keynote Music, a partner of The Tower Hamlets Arts & Music Education Service (THAMES), by Foundation for Future London.
The funding will support a project called Around the World which will see new music created by young people from Soundbox, an inclusive music collective that brings together disabled and non-disabled musicians, part of THAMES. Additionally, it will fund two Tower Hamlets community performances with Keynote Music/Docklands Sinfonia musicians and singers.
Working with schools and cultural organisations, THAMES provides music and arts opportunities for children and young people who live or go to school in Tower Hamlets.
Nearly all schools in Tower Hamlets access instrumental and vocal tuition through THAMES with more than 13,000 pupils currently engaging in lessons, that are free to pupils with no charge for instrument hire.
Polly Moore, chief executive officer of Restore the Music UK said: “We were delighted to award a total of £40,000 in funding for music education to Mayflower, John Scurr and Oaklands Schools - all of whom impressed with their commitment to sustainable delivery of music education and prioritisation of music within the school as a whole. We are very much looking forward to getting to know all three schools and their students and supporting them in their musical journey over the years to come.”
Cllr Iqbal Hossain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, said: Thanks to this award, pupils will have access to a range of instruments that will enrich and diversify musical performances and encourage greater participation.”
Dee Bleach, Headteacher at Mayflower Primary School, said: “Restore the Music UK funding will transform our music curriculum at Mayflower Primary School. We will now be able to play the piano in any room with our electronic piano, offer whole class instrumental lessons, tabla groups and enhance our general music provision.”
Maria Adebowale-Schwarte, CEO of Foundation for Future London, said: “The Foundation for Future London is pleased to award inclusive music collective project ‘Around the World’ a Collaborative Commissions 2023 grant, as part of our Connecting People and Places Fund, co-funded with The City of London Corporation. This innovative and inclusive project speaks to our organisation’s priority on inclusion and access, as well as the grant scheme’s aim to support innovative collaborative learning and partnerships through the partnership of Soundbox, THAMES and Keynote Music. I’m looking forward to the community performances showcasing our local young people’s musical talents.”
Posted on Thursday 6th April 2023