Running since the summer of 2008, In Harmony is a national programme that aims to inspire and transform the lives of children in deprived communities, using the power and disciplines of community-based orchestral music-making.
From 1 April 2012, it will be funded jointly by the Department for Education and Arts Council England. The Arts Council has also taken on a central coordinating and development role, and will be accountable for its delivery to the monitoring board established to oversee the delivery of the National Plan for Music Education.
Applications to this fund are now closed.
The Sage Gateshead, Nottingham City Council, Opera North and Telford & Wrekin Music have been chosen to deliver four new In Harmony projects between 2012 and 2015.
Funds available
The Arts Council is looking for four organisations or partnerships to deliver four new In Harmony projects. The grant supporting the delivery of an In Harmony project will run for the current spending period from September 2012 to March 2015.
Funding for In Harmony is confirmed for the delivery of each of the four successful projects as follows:
| 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
| £250,000 | £150,000 | £100,000 |
A limited amount of funding is also available for additional initial capital expenditure (for example, where instruments need to be purchased), where this can be justified.
For full information on funds available download the In Harmony guidance document.
About In Harmony
In Harmony's mission is to transform the lives of children in deprived communities through orchestral music-making.
The core principles of In Harmony, which all projects are expected to operate within, are:
- In Harmony is inspirational and transformational for children, families, schools and communities. It raises the expectations and improves the life chances of children through high quality musical education
- In Harmony is modelled around participating in an orchestra
- In Harmony is immersive - with children playing instruments together several times a week from an early age
- In Harmony seeks to engage all children in the school or community in which a project operates, and it is open to all
- Children learn together while playing in an orchestra together. They are encouraged to express themselves through music, balanced with a rigorous approach so that progression is embedded from the start of a project
- The teaching is of exceptionally high quality
- As children progress, they help each other to learn and progress
- In Harmony inspires others to invest in it. Projects are sustainable and entrepreneurial
- In Harmony projects are mutually supportive and generous in sharing learning, experience and expertise. They seek to develop models that can be replicable or adaptable in different social contexts
For full information on the aims and objectives download the In Harmony guidance document.
Key dates
- applications must be submitted using the Standard application form via our online portal no later than 11am on Monday 25 June 2012
- applicants will be notified of the decision no later than 16 July 2012
- we anticipate that successful applicants will start full delivery of an In Harmony project no later than January 2013
