Ed Sheeran has helped kick‑start one of the UK’s biggest music education shake‑ups in years, after the Government confirmed a £12.5 million Music in Libraries programme inspired directly by the singer.
The new initiative will create dedicated music spaces in public libraries across England, offering free access to instruments, workshops, tutoring, recording booths and industry‑level equipment.
The Government says the idea traces back to a conversation Ed had with Secretary of State for Culture, Music and Sport Lisa Nandy during their visit last year to Brighten The Corners in the musician’s hometown of Ipswich – a youth arts organisation supported by the Ed Sheeran Foundation (ESF). That meeting sparked discussions about how libraries could be transformed into accessible, community‑based music hubs.
The 35-year-old superstar had already seen the impact of Scotland’s We Make Music Instrument Libraries model through Tinderbox, a Scottish charity backed by ESF. Witnessing that scheme first-hand convinced him that existing community infrastructure could dramatically widen access to music education. Since then, ESF has been working behind the scenes with Nandy and her team to help turn the concept into a nationwide programme.
The Government is investing at least £12.5m through The Dormant Assets Scheme, allowing all 152 library authorities in England to apply for funding. Over the coming months, ESF will help co‑design the programme, shaping the facilities and educational opportunities using its industry connections.
Dr Renuka Fernando, CEO of the Ed Sheeran Foundation, said: “The Music in Libraries programme is an important step forward for music education. 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.
ESF will work closely with government, libraries, music teachers, youth clubs and the music industry to help design the programme and maximise its impact.”
Libraries already play a central role in communities, with more than half of children aged 10–12 visiting one in the past year.
Under the new scheme, participating libraries will be able to host workshops, tutoring sessions, live performances and recording opportunities, equipped with mixing desks, instruments and studio‑grade technology.