Meet the 11 recipients of our unique £1.5million Energiser Fund, dedicated to pre-school creativity.
The Energiser Fund, made possible through funding from Arts Council England and is open to early years experts, leaders and innovators, will allow the selected organisations – which range from a touring theatre production that is co-designed by under 5s in Hull to a music and movement space for families in a converted shop in North Shields, to centre children’s voices, views and lived experience in creative projects that focus on co-design and participation.
At Youth Music, we believe that babies and toddlers are skilled and creative individuals with a huge amount to contribute. They should have the right to influence the organisations and activities they are involved in. However, our research into 31 major funders found that whilst 75% advertised specific young people-focused initiatives, only 25% had specific priorities for the early years and not one had a dedicated early years fund.*
*The National Foundation for Youth Music Annual Report and Accounts 2022/23
This finding is even more concerning when revealed at a time in which the early years sector is in crisis and funding is more important than ever. Practitioners are reporting an increase in number of settings closing down, staff shortages and ongoing retention issues, as well as the de-prioritisation of creative education when it comes to policy and resource allocation.
As a result of this, we will work alongside our Energiser Fund recipients to revolutionise early years creativity. From exploring tech with toddlers in Great Yarmouth and hosting a sculptor in residence at a nursery in Leamington Spa, to creating an experimental sound studio ran by 2-4 year olds in Thamesmead, the selected projects will bring excitement, greater understanding and more equity to an age group that’s often marginalised and underestimated.
The 11 organisations that have been chosen to receive Energiser Fund grants include:
- Magic Acorns – Great Yarmouth
- Turned On Its Head – Northamptonshire
- The Spark Arts For Children – Leicester
- TACO! – Thamesmead
- Maines-Beasley Creative Limited – North Shields
- The Whitworth – Manchester
- Bristol Old Vic – Bristol
- Take Art Limited – Dorset & Somerset
- Whitnash Nursery School – Leamington Spa
- The Herd Theatre – Hull
- Made with Music – Leeds
The projects will benefit from a three-year grant to deliver creative programmes with 2-4-year-olds. Organisations will come together to network and reflect throughout the three years, in a bespoke learning programme.
In addition, Groundswell Arts, specialists in creative programmes for young children, will be the fund Learning Partner, leading this exciting learning community over the three-year programme to share best practices, insights, and successes.
Matt Griffiths, Youth Music CEO, said: “Investing in Early Years is a matter of equity and inclusion, and with reports from early years practitioners that the suggested measures from the government feeling inadequate, it’s clear that work needs to be done to support the creativity in this age group.
“We’re really excited by the progressive work happening at these projects already, and can’t wait to work with them to change the creative landscape for early years children nationwide over the coming years.”
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