Emergency funding for Edinburgh youth music and arts projects

THREE music and arts groups in the Capital have been handed emergency funding from the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland to roll out new activities and initiatives for young people.

Drake Music is one of the groups receiving emergency cash Picture: Anne Binckebanck

Drake Music, Tinderbox Collective and Starcatchers are among 18 organisations across Scotland to receive a share of £1,053,000 for projects targeting priority groups of children and young people and providing important work for freelance artists.

Thursa Sanderson, chief executive of Drake Music Scotland, said the funding would allow them to develop a new programme of online activity called Sound Explorers, offering young people with additional support needs an interactive and fun way to make music.

“It will directly tackle the lack of access to music-making for young people with disabilities and additional support needs caused by the Covid pandemic removing the barriers for those isolating at home and those in the classroom."

Jack Nissan, director of Tinderbox Collective, said the money was “an invaluable support” which would help Tinderbox provide a range of music projects, youth clubs and creative opportunities for hundreds of young people, both on-line and in-person.. “It is so important that all young people have access to positive, social and creative activities like this, and that we do whatever we can to keep these going at this time.”

And Rhona Matheson, chief executive of Starcatchers, said their Where We Are project would give young people the opportunity to take part in creative activities in their own communities and provide more than 15 jobs for artists and freelance practitioners over the next year.

“Given the challenges we are all facing as a result of the pandemic, this is an exciting opportunity to initiate a new project that fosters collaboration, creativity and connection.”

Opportunities for young people are also being provided nationwide through funding for Engage, Film Access Scotland, National Piping Centre, National Youth Choir, Scottish Book Trust, Scottish Brass Band Association, Scottish Music Centre, Scottish Youth Theatre and Youth Theatre Arts.

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Youth music and youth arts organisations across Scotland are playing an important role in the lives of young people during these difficult times. This funding will support these organisations to expand their work and provide creative opportunities to young people as well as work and income for the artists and practitioners working with them through these projects.”

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