NCO welcomed as Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation

We are delighted to have been recognised by Arts Council England as a new member of their National Portfolio.

NCO exists to support children aged 8-14 to be happier and healthier through transformative orchestral experiences. At the heart of NCO are the children we support and our values – Ambition, Creativity, Happiness, Honesty and Respect.

Arts Council England’s investment from April 2023 to March 2026 will enable NCO to approach the considerable challenges which arts organisations and charities across the country currently face, with increased confidence, backing and sustainability. These challenges range from ever increasing inequality, financial pressures and the need to support the mental health and wellbeing of our children.

Our plans align harmoniously with Arts Council England’s strategic vision – Let’s Create. We are passionate about widening opportunities for children to take part in musical activities outside school. We are committed to further interrogating who NCO is currently not reaching with our programmes, the barriers they face and how we can engage with more children at such a critical age in a child’s musical development as they transition to secondary school.

Success will impact the diversity of the classical music sector, not only through its performers, but through its workforce, its supporters and its advocates. Success will only be achievable through connectivity in partnerships and collaboration, by building the profile of children’s voices within NCO, music education and the wider music sector, and by an integral focus on wellbeing and creativity, two fundamental aspects of NCO’s orchestral learning approach.

All at NCO would like to thank Arts Council England and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport for inviting us to join Arts Council England’s National Portfolio. We also want to send our sincere thanks to each and every one of our supporters for their help in getting to this point, including Arts Council England via the Culture Recovery Fund. NCO would not have survived the pandemic without our supporters.

“On behalf of everyone involved in NCO, we are delighted to receive this new funding from the Arts Council of England at this critical time for music education and children. It comes with responsibility that we will embrace, ensuring that children remain at the centre of everything we do and working to widen participation in our programme through partnership and collaboration with colleagues in the sector. We are ambitious for our organisation and young people and look forward to cementing the difference that we can make."

Sophie Lewis, Chief Executive and Catherine Arlidge, Artistic and Educational Director, National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain

“This is an enormous moment for National Children’s Orchestras and a deserved recognition of the commitment Sophie, Catherine and their team have to furthering a vision where orchestral playing is the driving force in the happiness and health of children. I look forward to the next steps with pride.” Louise Mitchell, Chair of Trustees, National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain.

Today Arts Council England has announced it’s 990 National Portfolio Organisations for 2023-2026, who will receive a share of £446 million investment.

 “As well as continuing our commitment to our many established and renowned cultural organisations, I am deeply proud of the support we will be giving to those new organisations which will help ignite creativity across the country.  We are facing economic pressures at present but this funding is about an investment in our future. This portfolio will support the next generation of visionary inventors, makers, performers and artists. In particular, the growth of our funding for organisations that support and develop work for children represents a profoundly important long-term investment in our country’s talent.” Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota

“We’re pleased to be welcoming NCO into the 2023-26 National Portfolio. NCO delivers high quality activities and performances with 650 young musicians each year, partnering with companies far and wide to highlight the importance of music education. Arts Council England’s ambitions to enable talent to flourish align closely with those of NCO. We look forward to seeing the impact of their work over the years.” Phil Gibby, Area Director, South West, Arts Council England