THE Scottish Government-backed Youth Music Initiative (YMI) has awarded more than £1.7m to 61 country-wide projects.
The programme supports young people’s access to music education and industry opportunities.
The Access and Strengthening Youth Music funding will see nearly 10,000 children and young adults offered opportunities to participate in music-making activities.
Morag MacDonald, YMI manager at Creative Scotland, said: “These projects are not just about learning music; they're about igniting passion, fostering creativity and building a community where every young person can find their unique musical voice.”
Whether it’s the pulsing beats of samba drumming or the cutting-edge world of electronic music production, the broad spectrum of initiatives are aimed at opening doors.
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “At its heart, the YMI is about providing young people of all backgrounds the opportunity to enjoy music.
“However, its reach is far greater in bringing communities, creative professionals and young people of all ages and abilities together.”
Glasgow’s AC Projects’ Music Space offers a nine-month bursary programme for people aged 16-25, offering professional development in contemporary and experimental music.
Its creative producer, Alasdair Campbell, said: “With the support of the YMI team, we were able to create an initiative that would offer time, space and financial support to young people to participate in the joy of creating music.”
In Dundee, Street Soccer Group and Turn The Tables are launching a youth-led digital music project in DJ Hannah Laing’s doof Studios.
These groups will teach participants to DJ, produce music and perform live events, offering them a pathway into Scotland’s music scene.
Kyle Fraser, social enterprise manager at Change Centre Dundee, said: “We are immensely proud to have teamed up with beloved Dundee and national icon Hannah Laing, along with our trusted and inspiring partner Turn the Tables.
“We feel this won’t only have a direct impact on our players and the wider community but provide Dundee with an incredible resource.”
Extending further than major cities, the funding is also promoting the Gaelic language and opportunities for those in rural areas.
On the Isle of Skye, the bilingual music production project Còmhla Collective provides a 10-week project, where artists collaborate and produce an EP written both in Gaelic and English.
Project lead Richy Carey said: “The project looks to address the significant lack of professional development opportunities for young musicians on the island.
“By working together and creating an interdependent musical community, we hope to provide long-lasting opportunities beyond the project itself.”
