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Youth Music Initiative Funding

Creative Scotland administers the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative (YMI) programme which aims to:

  • Create access to high-quality music-making opportunities for children and young people, particularly for those that would not normally have the chance to participate
  • Enable children and young people to achieve their potential in or through music making
  • Support the development of the youth music sector for the benefit of children and young people

You can learn more about the Youth Music Initiative, read our impact reports and evaluations and find out about our latest work over on the main YMI programme page.

For guidance on completing YMI Interim and End of Project Forms please visit the relevant fund pages.

Contents

Apply for Funding

There will be four routes to apply for funding for youth music projects in 2023/24. For guidance on eligibility, criteria and applying to these funds, please visit relevant fund pages.

School Based Music Making (Formula Fund)

This fund aims to fulfil the YMI Scottish Government commitment that every school pupil in Scotland should be offered a year of free music tuition by the time they leave primary school. This is a targeted fund open for applications from Scotland’s 32 Local Authorities and Jordanhill School.

Access to Music Making

The purpose of the Access to Music Making fund is to create access to high-quality music making opportunities for children and young people.

Strengthening Youth Music

To support individuals, organisations and networks who work outwith school settings to undertake training and continuing professional development that will strengthen youth music in Scotland for the benefit of children and young people.

YMI CPD and Training Fund

To support individuals, organisations and networks who work outwith school settings to undertake training and continuing professional development that will strengthen youth music in Scotland for the benefit of children and young people.

Further advice and information

If you would like more information about Youth Music Initiative, get in touch with a member of the YMI team.

If you require support, further information or have any general enquiries about the application process please contact our Enquiries Service. Our Enquiries Service will be able to advise you or will put you in contact with one of our officers.

You can also visit the Creative Scotland contact page for information on how to get in touch via our website or social media.

If you are a D/deaf BSL user, you can access our services with the Contact Scotland-BSL programme. Visit the Contact Scotland BSL website for more information.

Stay up to date

Stay up to date with the programme by signing up to the YMI newsletter. You can also keep up to date with all things YMI by following the hashtag #YMIScotland and follow us at @CreativeScots.

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
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