Music and Dance Scheme helps to boost opportunities for young musicians and dancers

An MDS contribution of £500,000 a year for national youth music organisations and a contribution of £400,000 a year towards the core costs of Youth Dance England have been made available in 2010/11.

Youth Music is administering the funds for music, along with contributions of its own. The total fund to be spent over the period is in the form of awards to the national, flagship, music organisations that apply against fixed criteria. The organisations include the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, the National Children’s Orchestra, the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, the National Youth Jazz Collective and the South Asian Music Youth Orchestra.

Successful applicants are receiving up to three-years funding that can be spent on helping to sustain core activities, developing artistic programmes and increasing access to the excellent opportunities they provide. This includes extending and opening auditions, widening membership and broadening repertoire. For further details visit Youth Music's website. 

Youth Dance England 

Youth Dance England has identified the full range of dance activities available to young people and seeks to create new partnerships between those providing and supporting these activities within and outside of school. It is working across the education, arts, and private and community sectors for the benefit of all involved in youth dance. For further details visit Youth Dance England's website.