Arts Council England has released an interactive map detailing a new geographic structure for Music Hub Areas.
The refreshed NPME (2022) stated that Music Hubs should become more strategic, with ‘a reduced number of Hub Lead Organisations establishing partners across wider geographical areas’ from September 2024. This is to create more diverse, dynamic partnerships and improve consistency across music education.
In December 2022 the ‘guiding principles’ for creating new Music Hub areas were published, and in January 2023 ACE conducted a survey and focus groups to gain feedback. Following this consultation, ACE shared their proposals for new Music Hub areas, seeking further feedback that had led to the latest announcement.
ACE admits that while ‘most supported the proposals, in some areas the sector shared a compelling case for new Hubs to retain existing operating structures that were already working across more than one local authority’. At the same time, there are new opportunities.
A screenshot of the interactive map
ACE has produced a map showing the new areas. These include some towns and cities partnered with rural and suburban areas; an example being Dorset and Somerset sharing expertise between coastal and inland communities. London, meanwhile, has outer boroughs linking with organisations concentrated in the centre, to avoid the divide between inner and outer London.
According to ACE, ‘organisations sharing their resources, expertise and processes will diversify opportunities for young people’. In addition, the new structure ‘will support career development for the music education workforce while providing new avenues for research and generating income.’
With the Hub areas now confirmed, the next stage – organisations submitting applications for new Music Hub partnerships and the Music Hub Investment Programme – can proceed.
