Applications now open for Atsain
a new fund to address barriers to music for young people in Wales
Applications are now open for the brand new Atsain music fund from Anthem. Cronfa Gerdd Cymru Music Fund Wales which will support music organisations and address barriers to music for young people in Wales.
Atsain will fund work for young people engaging in music who experience barriers through life circumstances, geographical issues, identity or background, and is backed by investment from Youth Music, thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, and Anthem’s resources with support from founding patrons and Welsh Government.
Organisations will be able to apply for up to £10,000 to help them deliver specific music projects for young people in Wales, to help them address specific barriers to engagement.
Young people are at the heart of Anthem’s work. Music is a passion, a form of expression, helps change their mood, relieves stress, and builds self-esteem. It can also be a career – the thing they want to do for the rest of their life. Young people find music in many ways – through school, through friends, at the local youth club, online. Being able to connect with music projects in their local area is an important first step.
Many young people in Wales are unable to access music experiences through no fault of their own – a generation without access to music or opportunity to develop if you happen to be in the wrong geographical area, live in an area of high social deprivation or rural isolation or encounter exclusion in whatever form. Anthem’s funding will allow organisations to create new programmes of work or create projects in specific contexts to address young people’s needs and the barriers they face.
The first application round of Atsain funding is now open until 4th April 2022. Find out more about how to apply here.
There will be two online webinars for those interested in applying to find out more about the fund and the process. It will be an opportunity to discuss if your specific project is eligible and how to submit a successful application. The webinars for potential grant applicants will take place on 17 March at 10am-11am and 6pm-7pm. To book your free space, please register via eventbrite on our website at https://www.anthem.wales/apply-for-funding/
Anthem has secured the initial £150,000 needed to launch the Atsain Fund, but, in order to ensure the sustainability of the fund, Anthem is now seeking additional support from new patrons to raise £500,000 so that youth music projects in Wales can be supported across the next three years. If you are interested in becoming a Founding Patron and enabling access to music for young people in Wales, please contact Anthem CEO Rhian Hutchings at rhian.hutchings@anthem.wales .