NATIONAL GRANTS IN MUSIC AND DANCE
In March 2004, the Government announced a new national grants scheme for exceptionally talented children which will allow them to gain access locally to specialist training. The scheme has become successfully embedded since then, is continuing to be rolled out, and is complementing the existing Music and Dance (Aided Pupil) Scheme at the eight residential schools which are designated centres of excellence in their field.
Alongside the junior departments of the six English music conservatoires, there are (from September 2008) fourteen existing or emerging Centres for Advanced Training (CATs) based in the North East, the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, South Yorkshire, East of England, the East and West Midlands, London and the South West.
The fourteen centres are:
- Aldeburgh Young Musicians, Suffolk
- Centre for Young Musicians (CYM), London
- Dance City Academy, Newcastle upon Tyne
- Dance East Academy, Ipswich, Suffolk
- DanceXchange with SAMPAD South Asian arts, Birmingham (pilot year 2008/09)
- Dance4, Nottingham (pilot activity only during 2008/09)
- Laban (Dance Centre), SE London
- London Contemporary Dance School at The Place, London
- The Sage Gateshead (Weekend Music School), Tyne & Wear
- Sheffield Music Academy
- South West Music School
- Youth Dance Academy, Swindon, Wiltshire
- Yorkshire Young Dancers (in partnership with Northern Ballet Theatre and Northern Contemporary Dance School in Leeds)
- Yorkshire Young Musicians (based in Leeds and Hull)
There are junior departments at the Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Trinity College of Music, Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester.
Who are the grants for?
These grants are intended for young musicians aged 8 to 16 (on first application) and for young dancers aged 11 to 16 (on first application) with exceptional potential and dedication, and who do not have the financial means to access the best available training. The grants are available up to age 18/19 subject to suitable progress being made. In making such grants available to individual students, the needs of the individual child are put first. These are spelled out in individual training plans which need to be agreed by students, parents, teachers and providers.
Will my child have to take a test/audition?
Your child will have to meet the centre’s selection rules. There is usually an audition and an interview. The centres for advanced training will look for a child with exceptional potential and there will be competition for the limited number of grants available.
What about where I live?
Your child must have been living in the British Islands for at least three years before taking up one of the new grants. Special rules apply if your child has been temporarily abroad or is the child of a worker from certain other European countries.
How much will the grant be?
The grants will be means-tested. The full amount will be £3,375 a year from September 2008. You will not have to make any contribution if your total family income before tax is £27,500 or less (after deducting £1,745 for each dependent child in the family, including the grant holder) in the tax year ended 5 April 2008. If your family income is more you will receive a smaller grant and you will have to make a contribution as shown below (depending on the total cost of the training):
Total family income |
Amount of grant |
Amount of contribution |
up to £27,500 |
£3,375 |
nil |
£27,501 to £31,167 |
£3,038 |
£337 |
£31,168 to £34,834 |
£2,700 |
£675 |
£34,835 to £38,501 |
£2,363 |
£1,012 |
£38,502 to £42,168 |
£2,025 |
£1,350 |
£42,169 to £45,835 |
£1,688 |
£1,687 |
£45,836 to £49,502 |
£1,350 |
£2,025 |
£49,503 to £53,169 |
£1,013 |
£2,362 |
£53,170 to £56,836 |
£675 |
£2,700 |
£56,837 to £60,500 |
£338 |
£3,037 |
over £60,500 |
nil |
£3,375 |
You may be able to get help with your contribution either from the centre for advanced training itself or from other sources. Please ask your centre.
How do I apply for a grant?
Arrangements will vary between the centres for advanced training. You will need to get in touch with one of the centres for details. Contact information is given on the CATs page.
