Cornwall Council has announced it will be searching for an alternative provider for the Cornwall Education Music Hub (CEMH).

The CEMH is a partnership of local and national music and arts organisations, and part of Cornwall Council’s Education Service.

It provides important music-related curricular and extra-curricular activities for schools, children and young people in Cornwall and is funded through Arts Council England (ACE) and the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG).

However, the council claims that, with finances under enormous pressure due to the combined effects of the pandemic and a rise in demand for frontline services such as adult social care, it is unable to continue maintaining the CEMH in its current format.

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The council also say they are now working with Arts Council England to identify a suitable provider to take on delivery of the Hub so that access to music learning for children and young people in Cornwall is maintained.

Cornwall Council portfolio holder for Children and Families, Barbara Ellenbroek, said: "The hub is an important part of our learning provision, helping inspire pupils to develop their talents and foster a love of music.

"We are not closing the hub down, but our finances are stretched, and we are facing some tough choices.

"That is why we have taken the decision to work with Arts Council England to identify a new provider so that access to music and musical instruments will continue to be universally available for children and young people in Cornwall."