Ed Sheeran helps shape a £12.5 million initiative bringing free music education, mentoring and recording facilities to England’s libraries.
British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has inspired a new £12.5 million UK government initiative that will transform public libraries across England into creative music hubs, providing young people with free access to music education, recording facilities, mentorship and live performance opportunities.
The programme, known as Music in Libraries, was announced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). More than 150 library authorities in England will be eligible to apply for funding through the government’s Dormant Assets Scheme, which uses unclaimed money from financial products to support projects that benefit the public. The initiative is being co-designed by the Ed Sheeran Foundation alongside teachers, youth organisations and music industry experts.
Successful libraries will be able to establish dedicated music spaces featuring recording booths, mixing desks and other production equipment while also hosting workshops, mentoring sessions and live performances for aspiring musicians.
The government said the programme grew out of a 2024 visit by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Sheeran to Brighten The Corners, a not-for-profit live music and youth arts organisation in Ipswich. It also draws inspiration from Scotland’s We Make Music model, which uses libraries to expand access to music-making within local communities.
Announcing the wider plan to strengthen grassroots music, Nandy said greater access to creative opportunities was needed for young people regardless of their background.
“As the song says, ‘Every generation throws a hero up the pop charts.’ But pop is getting posher, and that must change.
“Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. After a decade of mindless vandalism that stripped culture and creativity from too many classrooms and communities, we are putting music back at the heart of education, investing in creative careers and backing grassroots music across the country.
“We believe music belongs to everyone, not just the privileged few.”
Dr Renuka Fernando, chief executive of the Ed Sheeran Foundation, welcomed the initiative, describing it as an important development for music education outside traditional classrooms.
“By expanding access to music beyond the classroom, our library network can help ensure that children and young people from communities across England have the opportunity to engage with music, regardless of where they live,” she said.
The Music in Libraries programme follows Sheeran’s long-running campaign for stronger investment in music education. In 2025, he joined other leading artists in urging the UK government to take action to protect music education, while his foundation has continued to support music initiatives in schools, libraries and youth centres.
The libraries scheme forms part of a broader government package for the music sector, which also includes an additional £15 million for the Music Growth Package to support emerging artists, alongside measures aimed at easing licensing rules for music events and improving long-term stability for festivals and grassroots venues.
