York Music Hub is launching its Commissioning Plan and inviting musical organisations in York to apply for funding of up to £2,000 each, and clusters of schools up to £4,000 each, to help support its vision for musical provision in the city.

The commissioning plan seeks to allocate up to £40,000 during the academic year 2015/2016 and commission musical services which help develop sustainable, high quality and diverse musical experiences for local children and young people.

Funding bids should also support the National Plan for Music Education and may reflect the needs and issues identified in research undertaken by York Music Hub in 2012 and York St.John University in 2014.

A wide variety of musical bids are expected which may, for example, develop a range of singing opportunities (particularly for boys), give opportunities for children to become involved in performing and specialist events, commission music specialists or develop opportunities for using music technology. 

Tim Brooks, manager of the council’s York Arts Education (lead Music Hub partner), says: “One of the aims of the hub’s Commissioning Plan is to encourage music providers to develop stronger partnerships and explore innovative ways of working together. Whilst our research findings give guidelines to the sort of funding bid we’d like to see, we’re also keen to consider a range of other innovative proposals.”

The Commissioning Plan has been made possible through a recent increase in funding which has been awarded to York from the Arts Council England. Application forms and funding criteria for both musical organisations and school clusters are available at www.yorkmusichub.org.uk or by emailing artseducation@york.gov.uk

For further information and advice please contact Tim Brooks on tim.brooks@york.gov.uk or call 01904 554663