Image credit: City of Playford, SA
The SA Government has announced a Music Innovation Fund of over $500,000 that it says "aims to encourage investment that will enable schools and preschools to create, develop and sustain quality music education programs" in that State. It is available to primary schools, preschools and early childhood services to build and develop music education in that State, and the closing date submissions is Friday 12 July.
Eligible to apply are government schools and preschools as well as music and creative sector organisations, so the Fund is intentionally broad-based. There is no restriction on the type of submissions or initiatives that can be proposed, but the on-line application process makes it clear that they need to relate to the SA Government's $7 million Music Education Strategy launched last November.
The Music Innovation Fund is described here. The three areas is prioritises in the application preamble are in summary:
- enhancing existing systems and building capacity in general classrooms
- upskilling non-specialist teachers and educators
- providing curriculum and pedagogical resources
There are three funding rounds: the present one finishing on 12 July, a second round opening later in 2019, and a third round in early 2020.
Key drivers behind the Music Education Strategy are the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Elder Conservatorium of Music, who along with expertise lent by music education expert Dr Anita Collins worked with the SA Education Department to develop a 10-year vision of how to bring a quality music education to all children and young people in South Australia. Input via surveys from more than 800 parents, students and community members helped formulate its recommendations. Read the 24-page Strategy document here.
Anita Collins is a Councillor for Music Australia representing Music Education Research.
