The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) has launched a new fund to support and encourage music education around the world.Open to applicants located outside the UK and Ireland, the International Sponsorship Fund offers up to £2,000 for a 12-month period.
Anyone from individuals to groups or a music organisation can apply for the funding so long as they are committed to inspiring more people to participate in music, music teaching and learning.
The fund will be open to new applicants and existing ones every year and forms part of the ABRSM’s activities around the world. Indeed, in 2009 a total of 177,675 ABRSM grade one to eight exams were taken by students from countries outside the UK and Ireland.
Guy Perricone, chief executive of the exam board, explained that as the ABRSM is a registered charity, the majority of the money generated from the cost of examinations is used to support music education projects such as this one. While the largest proportion is made to four of the Royal Schools of Music in the UK, the charity also sponsors a number of organisations around the world.
“We recognise that much worthwhile activity takes place on a local basis and that we could play an active role in furthering this,” he added.
“The launch of our International Sponsorship Fund is therefore a significant step in our mission to support music education worldwide. The Fund will support activities that might otherwise be unable to move forward.”
Every year, more than 600,000 people in over 90 countries take an ABRSM course for more than 35 instruments. It also supports music teachers through training courses and online learning tools.
Highlighting the support the board gives people involved in music across the world, concert pianist Lang Lang recently praised the ABRSM for its work in Hong Kong over the past 60 years it has been in the city.
“Generations of young people and their teachers have been influenced, inspired, and supported by ABRSM’s work,” he said.