Norfolk County Council bidding to lead two county music hub

Norfolk County Council is in the running to lead music education services across Norfolk and Suffolk, after deciding to submit a bid to lead a two-county music hub.

The council, which currently leads the Norfolk Music Hub, will bid to the Arts Council to be the lead organisation for the Norfolk and Suffolk Music Hub from September 2024.

If successful, it would secure the council's role in music education in the county, with a specific focus on supporting those with special educational needs and those from more disadvantaged communities.

The Arts Council England funds Music Hubs across the country, on behalf of the Department of for Education. It has decided to reduce the number of Music Hubs across England from 118 to 43, including a combined hub for Norfolk and Suffolk.

Cllr Penny Carpenter, Cabinet Member for Children's Services at Norfolk County Council, said, "Norfolk Music Hub is held in high esteem nationally and, via Arts Council funding, has been able to secure some fantastic opportunities for our children and young people, such as the SENDfest event in the summer and the annual Big Sing celebration.

"We're in a strong position to bid for the two-county hub and have the backing of our partners across the region. We want our children to benefit from the joy and opportunity that music brings, creatively, educationally and from a wellbeing perspective."

The successful bidder will receive more than £2m of revenue funding and more than £660,000 of capital investment for the purchase of instruments, between September 2024 and August 2025.

The bid needs to be submitted by 12 October, with a decision expected by the Arts Council in April.