APPLICATIONS have opened for £1.2 million of Scottish Government funding through Creative Scotland to support out-of-school-hours music-making activities for children and young people across the country.

The Youth Music Initiative’s (YMI) Access to Music Making and Strengthening Youth Music Funds opened yesterday, with a deadline of 12pm on September 6.

The opening of the new funds coincides with the publication of the 2021-22 YMI Annual Plan, which sets out the ongoing priorities for the sector’s Covid-19 recovery.

As part of this, Creative Scotland will be working with Music Education Partnership Group (MEPG) partners to develop its Covid-19 recovery plan for music education.

Culture Minister Jenny Gilruth said: “We know that taking part in music activity gives young people new skills, improves wellbeing and boosts confidence, so I am delighted that this funding will support projects to increase access to high quality music-making for many young people who might otherwise not access these opportunities. Alongside our commitment for every child to receive a year’s music tuition before leaving primary school, this funding will help to improve and enrich the lives of children and young people.”

Morag Macdonald, Creative Scotland’s YMI manager, said: “We’re looking forward to receiving applications from individuals, groups and organisations across Scotland who can deliver projects covering all musical genres and age groups, encompassing group tuition, performance opportunities and digital music making.”