Music For Change works across seven nurseries and two children’s centres in north Westminster and is led by Creative Futures. The project delivers weekly music sessions aimed at improving the learning, skills and abilities of children in the most challenging circumstances, focusing specifically upon speech and language development. The project received a two year investment of £50,000 from the London Cultural Education Challenge, with partnership investment from John Lyon’s Charity and Trusthouse Charitable Foundation.
Early years is a key area of development for cultural education in London. We believe in the potential of this project to influence health and education agendas and therefore open up future public sector commissioning opportunities for the cultural sector.
In May, the third performance of Music for Change was given at St Jude's Hall. The performance by Wonderful Beast Theatre Company was called 'Orla and the Sun', and was an interactive and multi-sensory performance by three musicians and one dancer who combined interactive play, music, dance and narrative. "I thought it was fantastic," one parent commented. "My little girl she's not often a joiner-inner but what I loved about it was that she just sort of spontaneously got up and got involved and started playing with different things.”
Click here to read a report on the programme by Creative Futures
You can also read a blog about the programme on our website here, and follow Creative Futures on Twitter here.
Photo credit: Paul Grover for Creative Futures
