Bristol Music Trust, the charity behind Bristol’s Colston Hall, is forming a partnership with the Barbican and Sage Gateshead to promote inclusion and accessibility in music education and the music industry.
The partnership will focus on providing opportunities for young people who have fewer chances to take part in music education, including those with Special Education Needs and Disabilities.
The venues will work together to explore how modern concert halls and performing arts centres can increase the diversity of audiences and leadership.
Louise Mitchell, chief executive of the Bristol Music Trust, said: “It is exciting to be able to announce our strategic partnership with two of the most dynamic arts centres in the UK. Together we will pool our strengths to ensure concert halls are squarely addressing community need and proving their worth on a local and national scale.”
The partnership will be announced at a reception in the Houses of Parliament today (November 21).
Government statistics show that disabled people and members of the BAME community have much lower levels of engagement with arts and culture.