Cambridgeshire County Council has been appointed by the Arts Council of England to lead the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Music Education Hub from September as part of a consortium with Peterborough City Council.
The award is part of a nationwide programme to provide access to high-quality music education for all children and young people.
As the new Hub Lead Organisation for the region, the council will receive funding from the Department for Education (DfE) to co-ordinate music education strategy in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough through collaborations with providers and consortium member music teams.
It will also mean extra money to invest in new musical instruments, equipment and technology tailored to the needs of children and young people, including those with special educational needs and disabilities.
The new Hub will work with Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Music teams to deliver high quality music education accessible to all children and young people in the area through diverse partnerships between educational, creative and community organisations within their local communities.
The appointment is part of a major investment in a new generation of the nationwide network of Music Hubs. This investment will support the delivery the Government’s National Plan for Music Education alongside the provision by schools and give children and young people the opportunity to develop their musical interests, including helping them to begin careers in the music industry.
Matthew Gunn, Head of the Council’s Music Team, Cambridgeshire Music said: “We are delighted that the consortium has been chosen to lead music development for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area and look forward to further work with our colleagues in Peterborough. Music education is enormously powerful – it can enrich young people's lives, help them connect with the people around them, and start them on the pathway to fruitful and fulfilling careers. The profile and funding this attracts will enable us to further enhance the exciting and innovative opportunities we already offer to the young people of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.”
Kirsten Goldthorp, Head Peterborough Music Hub and Centre for Young Musicians said: “We are excited to be working in this new consortium with Cambridgeshire Music to lead music education development for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area, building on existing high quality offer, furthering existing partnership working and sharing skills and expertise across the wider area to ensure that all young people can thrive through music education and develop to their full potential irrespective of the ability to pay, educational, language, social or cultural barriers."
Cllr Bryony Goodliffe, Chair of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Children and Young People’s Committee added: “Many congratulations to colleagues in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Music Teams for securing this accolade and the associated funding, which will build on the great work they already do for our children and young people. It will enable them to take part in musical activities such as learning an instrument, singing or exploring how music is created and produced – all essential for their education and well-being.”
