Culture Secretary has welcomed a review
highlighting the impact of music for young people of all
backgrounds during Challenge Poverty Week.
The £9.78 million Scottish Government-funded Youth Music
Initiative provides music-making opportunities for young people
across Scotland, particularly those who would otherwise be unable
to participate.
The review found the Creative Scotland-administered programme had
expanded access and opportunities for children across Scotland
with more than 453,000 children supported over the last year.
It also found that its newest strand, the Youth Arts Open Fund,
delivered in participation with YouthLink, is already creating
additional opportunities for young people facing barriers to
participation. This includes ‘Starcatchers', who opened their
Baby Studio in an empty retail unit in Wester Hailes, providing
free access to creative space for babies and young children.
The review makes a range of recommendations for the Scottish
Government and Creative Scotland to consider. These focus on
potential structural changes as well as seeking out opportunities
to innovate and cement YMI's position as an
internationally-recognised model of best practice in youth arts
and engagement.
Culture Secretary said:
“At its heart, the YMI is about providing young people of all
backgrounds the opportunity to enjoy music. Participation in
cultural and creative activities helps young people grow into
confident citizens and plays an important role in fostering
wellbeing and supporting attainment.
“The Scottish Government is proud to support the delivery of
these benefits with £9.78 million funding in the last Budget. The
review's recommendations will be considered carefully alongside
the independent Review of Creative Scotland.”
Morag Macdonald, YMI Manager at Creative Scotland said:
“This report marks a pivotal moment to both reflect on the
profound impact of the YMI on Scotland's children and young
people, and to celebrate how deeply it's now embedded within the
fabric of our national cultural offer. We welcome the report's
recommendations which provide a clear focus for the programme's
strategic development, and we remain ambitious about the future
direction of the fund.”
Background
Youth Music Scotland
Review
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports culture
and creativity across all parts of Scotland, distributing funding
provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery.
In 2003, the Scottish Government's Youth Music Initiative
(YMI) was launched to put music at the heart of young people's
lives and learning. It currently operates with an annual budget
of £9.785 million and supports all musical genres, age groups and
teaching methods.
