Arts education specialists receive £9.6m boost 

The Office for Students (OfS) has awarded £9.6m to 15 specialist higher arts education providers across England to develop their performing arts courses. 

The funding will be made available for academic years 2022-23 to 2026-27 and has been designed to improve teaching and access for contemporary music, drama and dance courses.

It will cover the provision of specialist equipment, development of partnerships with other higher education providers and access to performing arts education for students from underrepresented groups.

Of the 15 recipients, six – the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, BIMM Institute, the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance, Leeds Conservatoire, the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance – have been awarded the highest amount of £1m per annum.

Susan Lapworth, Chief Executive of OfS, said the “OfS’s investment will ensure that current and future generations of students – whatever their background – are able to succeed during their studies and into their careers”.  

“The small size and highly specialised approach of the institutions we are funding play an important role in their educational experience of students, and this funding will ensure they can continue to deliver a high quality experience.”