Applications are now open for the brand new Atsain music fund from Anthem. Cronfa Gerdd Cymru Music Fund Wales which will support music organisations and address barriers to music for young people in Wales.

Atsain will fund work for young people engaging in music who experience barriers through life circumstances, geographical issues, identity or background, and is backed by investment from Youth Music, thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, and Anthem’s resources with support from founding patrons and Welsh Government.

Organisations will be able to apply for up to £10,000 to help them deliver specific music projects for young people in Wales, to help them address specific barriers to engagement.

Chief Executive of Anthem, Rhian Hutchings said, “We know music can be an extremely powerful tool for young people, and access to music is about so much more than just playing an instrument. The Atsain Fund will support music projects to connect with even more young people and help them build confidence, learn to collaborate, explore their creativity and find pathways to potential future careers. A huge thank you to funders
Youth Music and Welsh Government for supporting the launch of Atsain.”

CEO of Youth Music, Matt Griffiths said: “Music gives young people the power to transform their lives, especially those facing barriers because of who they are, where they’re from or what they’re going through. We’re excited to be the first investors in Anthem’s new Atsain fund so that more young people can make, learn and earn in music, thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery.”

Young people are at the heart of Anthem’s work. Music is a passion, a form of expression, helps change their mood, relieves stress, and builds self-esteem. It can also be a career – the thing they want to do for the rest of their life. Young people find music in many ways – through school, through friends, at the local youth club, online. Being able to connect with music projects in their local area is an important first step.

Many young people in Wales are unable to access music experiences through no fault of their own – a generation without access to music or opportunity to develop if you happen to be in the wrong geographical area, live in an area of high social deprivation or rural isolation or encounter exclusion in whatever form. Anthem’s funding will allow organisations to create new programmes of work or create projects in specific contexts to address young people’s needs and the barriers they face.

Atsain Programme Manager Rebecca Rickard said, “We are aware that there can be many barriers to music for young people. We are keen to have applications that address access for Disabled young people, provision and empowerment for young people from global majority communities, and support for young people experiencing health challenges.”

Singer-songwriter and Anthem Ambassador Kizzy Crawford said, “Applying for the Atsain fund is a brilliant opportunity for any music project for young people who experience barriers through life circumstances, geographical issues, identity or background, I’m so happy and impressed to see that there is now a platform and such amazing opportunity like this. I’m looking forward to helping Anthem to spread the word about the fund and seeing the impact of Atsain over the coming years.”

The first application round of Atsain funding is now open until 4th April 2022. Details on how to apply for the funding grant for youth music projects can be found on anthem.wales website.