Brass Foundations education programme extended thanks to National Lottery Funding

Brass Bands England have announce that their BBE Brass Foundations programme has been extended until July 2022.

Following the success of the first six months of this ground-breaking brass education initiative, Arts Council England have awarded £48,000 for the programme through its National Lottery Project Grants.

Brass Foundations currently operates on a pilot basis, delivered by BBE’s five Youth Development Brass Specialists, based in Camden, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire, Gloucestershire and Lancashire. Between them, this passionate and experienced team has delivered hundreds of schools workshops as well as played a vital role in building significant links between community brass bands and Music Education Hubs, to support and nurture young musical talent.

On top of workshop activity, the programme has also seen thousands of children take part in online workshops, play a pBuzz, or benefit from a Proms In The Playground performance.

Key aims for the next phase of Brass Foundations will be the creation of new beginner and youth bands in the programme’s core areas, whilst also supporting the banding community nation-wide through advice and support, online events and resources. BBE also have ambitious plans for activity to be expanded nationwide in future years.

Mike Kilroy, Chairman of Brass Bands England, commented: “This is fantastic news for brass bands and we would like to thank the National Lottery, through Arts Council England, for providing the funds for BBE to continue the Brass Foundations programme for the next academic year.

This is perhaps the most significant brass band-specific education outreach programme of recent times and, as its title suggests, one that we are confident will provide the foundations for a sustainable, rewarding and diverse banding community for many years to come.

Our five Youth Development Brass Specialists, led by Education and Development Manager, Sarah Baumann, have already achieved outstanding results and, with the support of everyone who plays the National Lottery, we are delighted that they are going to be able to achieve even greater outreach in the months ahead.”

National Lottery Project Grants is Arts Council England’s open access programme for arts, museums and libraries projects. The fund supports thousands of individual artists, community and cultural organisations thanks to National Lottery investment.

National Lottery players raise over £36 million for good causes each week, funding arts, heritage, sports, voluntary and charity projects around the UK. Over £43 billion has been raised for Good Causes since the National Lottery began in 1994.

Pete Massey, Director North, Arts Council England said: ‘It is vital that everyone can access creative opportunities no matter where they live or what their background is. Following Brass Foundations’ initial funding from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, I’m delighted that we have supported its extension through our National Lottery Project Grants programme.

I hope that through this programme many more young people from a wide range of backgrounds can receive a brass band education and experience the joy of performing whilst simultaneously securing a vibrant future for brass bands.’

There will be lots of ways for you and your band to participate in the continuation of the Brass Foundations programme. Keep an eye on the Brass Foundations page for announcements of future activity or if you’re not on the BBE mailing list yet, you can register here.

Whilst some activity will be available to all, some resources will be restricted to the BBE membership. Find out more about becoming a BBE member from just £25.