£1.5m lifeline for Sistema children's orchestra projects
- Published
Children from Raploch's Big Noise orchestra performing in 2012
The Scottish government says it will provide £1.5m to fund children's orchestras at risk of closure because of squeezed council budgets.
Sistema Scotland provides free music tuition for young people in deprived areas through its Big Noise programme.
Councils in Aberdeen and Dundee had axed funding for their Big Noise youth orchestras, with fears raised about the future of other projects.
The Scottish government confirmed it would cover the extra funding needed.
Culture minister Neil Gray said the cash would ensure that young people continue to benefit from the Big Noise projects in Dundee, Aberdeen, Stirling, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
He said: "We value the importance of cultural organisations and their contribution to the wellbeing of the country to promote the arts, provide employment and engage with communities across Scotland."
In a tweet, Nicola Sturgeon said: "I know from my own constituency how inspiring and beneficial the Big Noise programme is for the young people who take part.
"I know times are tough for councils - but delighted to confirm that the Scottish government will ensure Sistema gets the funding it needs to secure future."
There are five Big Noise orchestras run by Sistema across Scotland
Deputy First Minister John Swinney has written to Sistema to give them assurances over next year's funding after lobbying from a number of musicians, community groups and politicians.
Nicola Killean, chief executive of Sistema Scotland, said she was "absolutely delighted" by the announcement.
She added: "We are grateful to ministers, those councils that did stand by us, and all of our wonderful funders and the wider community who have sent us so many messages of support over the past weeks.
"This will make a lasting difference to young people's lives in our most disadvantaged communities."
'Fantastic result'
Big Noise launched its first orchestra in Stirling's Raploch estate in 2008.
The project was inspired by Venezuela's El Sistema, which grew from the ideas of Jose Abreu who taught music in some of Venezuela's poorest neighbourhoods.
The Big Noise project in the Douglas area of Dundee was the fourth to be launched by the charity in 2017.
It had faced an uncertain future after a £300,000 grant from the council was axed.
Big Noise Torry, which operates in one of Aberdeen's more deprived areas, had also lost its council funding.
Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said the funding announcement was a "fantastic result" for all involved.
He added: "I am delighted the Scottish government has stepped in to protect these Sistema Big Noise projects."
- Published24 February 2023
- Published23 June 2022
