Following a formal request from the MIA & Music Mark the Department of Education has extended the timeframe in which the £25m Capital Grant for Musical Instruments can be accessed by Music Hubs.
The extension was confirmed as part of the update regarding the tender process for the new National Centre for Music and Arts, which is due to be in place from September 2026. The tender document is scheduled for publication on 16th February, with a submission deadline of 27th April and the Centre will receive a three-year contract through to August 2028, with the option of extension for a further three years. The £13 million contract value will be allocated over three years, with funding increasing each year as the Centre expands its services.
According to the DfE the National Centre ‘will aim to ensure every child in England has more equitable access to high-quality arts education by supporting excellent teaching, developing sustainable partnerships between schools and cultural organisations, and promoting arts education opportunities. This should ensure effective delivery of the new national curriculum and relevant qualifications across art and design, dance, drama, and music in state-funded schools, including working with local and regional partners, and their communities.’
Arts Council England, the current fundholder for the Music Hub Network, will continue to distribute funding for the next academic year ending in August 2027. The National Centre will therefore transition to full oversight and funding responsibility for the Music hub network from September 2027, according to the announcement ‘this gives the Centre a year to plan the transition from existing oversight arrangements with Arts Council England, during which the Centre can undertake preliminary engagement with Music Hub partnerships before September 2027.’
The statement goes onto confirm that the ‘existing Music Hubs capital grant overseen by Arts Council England will also be extended to the end of April 2027. The Centre will not therefore need to assume responsibility for this grant.’ The MIA welcomes this outcome following our letter requesting an extension which was sent to the Minister in January. We also requested that the Supplier Framework for the Capital Grant be reopened for additional applications, we are still waiting an update on that matter.
You can read the full statement from the Department for Education here.
