The new Black Country Music Hub has been announced

Arts Council England has confirmed that the Black Country will be one of 43 centers to take part in an ambitious national program to provide high quality music education for all children and young people.

Dudley Council has been appointed as the lead organization for the hub and will work closely with music services in Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton councils and the SIPS Music and Education service in Sandwell.

It will receive £1.9m from the Department for Education to co-ordinate music education in the region. It will invest in new musical instruments, equipment and technologies adapted to the needs of children and young people in Montenegro, including those with special educational needs and disabilities.

The Hub will support the continued provision of individual and group music lessons in schools and provide opportunities for children and young people to play in bands and orchestras.

It will also support school orchestra lessons where all children and young people in a class are able to learn to play an instrument.

Ciaran O’Donnell, Head of Music at Wolverhampton City Council, said:

I am delighted that our collective application has been successful. This will provide continuity of funding and ensure our local schools that the services they receive from the music service can continue. Being part of something bigger in the Black Country opens up great potential to develop even wider and stronger partnerships for the benefit of our children.

Chris Jones, Head of Education, SEND and Family Solutions at Dudley Council, said:

We welcome this announcement and I am glad that we can lead this work in the Black Country. Through the new hub we hope to share best practice with colleagues across the region and open up new opportunities for all children and young people to be creative and get involved in music.

Brian Cape, chief executive of SIPS Education, said:

We are delighted to officially join forces with Dudley, Wolverhampton and Walsall Councils in creating a Black Country Music Hub. We look forward to strengthening our already strong cooperation and collaboration in the neighborhood for the benefit of colleagues and students alike, while giving the Black Country a strong voice on the national stage.

Philippa Venables, director of regeneration and economy at Walsall Council, said:

Music plays an important part in our everyday lives and this funding means we can continue to provide and support high quality music education. Walsall Council is delighted to be part of this partnership and I look forward to seeing – and hearing – the results.