Making Music launches programme to support inclusion in leisure-time music groups
Florence Lockheart
Friday, September 22, 2023
The association’s INCLUDE programme is designed to help four Making Music member groups achieve their inclusion goals
Making Music, the UK’s association for leisure-time music groups, has announced the launch of a programme designed to help its member groups become more inclusive. Making Music: INCLUDE will offer an initial intake of four groups support from Making Music staff and inclusion focus programme manager Elizabeth Palmer.
Over the 18-month programme, the four groups will receive guidance to help them plan, deliver and review actions to make their group or audience more diverse and inclusive, produce two events in their local community with a focus on inclusion and communicate their journey to other Making Music members to help them on their own journeys towards inclusivity.
Barbara Eifler, chief executive of Making Music, said: ‘We’re thrilled to be launching this programme to understand the challenges groups face in removing barriers for potential participants and audiences. The learning from INCLUDE will help us support and inspire more leisure-time music groups to achieve their ambitions to be more accessible to their communities.’
Three groups have been chosen so far, with a fourth expected to be announced soon. Great Bowden Recital Trust, Luton Choral Society and OutSingCancer Choir all operate in what Arts Council England defines as Levelling Up for Culture Places, but are at different stages of their inclusivity journey. They represent a range of music-making mediums, reflecting Making Music’s membership make-up.
Making Music will be officially launching the programme, with a launch event next week (25 September). The event, which is free to attend, welcomes sector members of any level of experience who have an interest in access and inclusion work and will offer insight from keynote speakers Dr Michael Bonshor from the University of Sheffield, Roger Wilson from Black Lives in Music and Rachel Wolffsohn from the OHMI Trust, which supports the development and adaptation of musical instruments for people who are physically disabled.
