Music Generation thrilled with being chosen as ‘Toy Show’ beneficiary
“The award will help us to create more inclusive, creative projects from which we will learn and share to ensure that children and young people can have access to music making and learning experiences that work for them in spite of all the barriers in their way.”
Those were the words of Margaret O’Sullivan, co-ordinator of Music Generation Cork City after it was announced that Music Generation Cork City was selected as one of the chosen beneficiaries of the inaugural RTÉ Toy Show Appeal.
For the past decade Music Generation has been providing music learning and participation opportunities to children and young people up to the age of 18 with a community-focused approach to ensure children at the risk of exclusion receive inclusive and accessible education through music.
For their winning proposal, Music Generation proposed to build on their experience gained with community-based music groups and pledged to initiate a year-long research and development project to partner with groups that work with marginalised children.
Their research proposed to do the following:
• Develop and implement action research projects in schools with children with autism/on the autism spectrum
• Develop and implement research partnership with the STAR project, Cork’s education resource workers for children and young people from the Roma and Traveller communities to address gaps in music provision and identify barriers to participation in existing music programmes
• Action research to identify and address ongoing barriers to music participation for children in Direct Provision and amongst migrant communities
Ms O’Sullivan continued: “Working on the ground in communities in partnership we have learned that combining action research and CPD for musician educators, staff and partners, creates opportunities for children and young people to inform and shape research on their own needs and perspectives.
“We recognise that children and young people all have their own unique experiences, needs, and that their creative aspirations are reflective of multiplicities of experience within and between cultures, communities, individuals, families, and social groupings.”
She added: “We work hard to develop programmes according to local need and context by working in partnership with community-based music groups to provide responsive and adaptive context-based music learning and participation opportunities.”
Speaking in relation to the funding announcement, Ms O’Sullivan expressed her delight to have been selected to receive funding. “Music Generation Cork City includes a huge web of people in Cork city and in our wider network so the honour of being selected for this funding is very meaningful for us, given the special place the Toy Show has in all our hearts and the generosity of the Irish public towards the appeal. We are thrilled!”
The inaugural Toy Show Appeal funding is expected to benefit over 630,000 children and family members across Ireland.