Youth Music Initiative

In 2003, the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative (YMI) was launched to put music at the heart of children and young people’s lives and learning. It currently operates with an annual budget of £9 million and supports all musical genres, age groups and teaching methods.

On this page you can learn more about the programme by reading the annual plan as well as recent impact reports and evaluations.

Youth Music Initiative Funding

Supporting high quality music making opportunities for young people aged 0 – 25 yrs.

YMI Downloads

Discover more about youth music in Scotland and the YMI programme through our latest reports, evaluations and case studies.

YMI Newsletter Sign Up

Stay up to date with the programme by signing up to the YMI newsletter

Youth Music Initiative 20th Anniversary Celebration

In 2022 we're celebrating a wonderful 20 years of the Youth Music Initiative.

Latest Stories from YMI

Spotlight on Findhorn Bay Arts, celebrating creativity with young music makers from Moray

Since 2012, Findhorn Bay Arts has been ‘making creative things happen’ in Moray and beyond. In this Spotlight piece for the Youth Music Initiative, find out more about their project In the Mix.

Published: 05 Jul 2021

Spotlight on Nevis Ensemble's Young Carer's project

For this month’s spotlight Nevis Ensemble Chief Executive, Jamie Munn writes about their recent Young Carer’s project which will tie in with Carer’s Week (7-13 June).

Published: 03 Jun 2021

Spotlight on hip hop artist Jackill

Aberdeenshire YMI have been working with local hip hop artist Jackill for 3 years to deliver a hip hop project to primary schools and two groups of young people at risk of exclusion from mainstream secondary education in the north of Aberdeenshire. Jackill writes here about why he believes hip hop is such an (...)

Published: 17 May 2021

Spotlight on Tinderbox PlayAway Games Festival

For this month’s spotlight Tinderbox Collective Project Manager, Musical Director and freelance Games Composer Luci Holland writes about Scotland’s games music industry.

Published: 11 Mar 2021

Recipients of Youth Arts Funding announced

£2.1m of Scottish Government emergency Youth Arts Funds are being awarded to 92 projects across the country to help ensure children and young people continue to have access to creative opportunities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published: 18 Feb 2021