The Scottish Arts Council (SAC) has recently awarded grants totalling GB£678,358 to arts projects across the nation, many of which feature music and drama tuition for children and young people. More than GB£400,000 has been given to projects which feature traditional music tuition for young people, and the development of new plays for schools, including new works in Gaelic and for educational work in rural areas of southern Scotland by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. In welcoming the contribution of the grants, Jim Tough, Head of Strategic Development at the SAC, said he was 'delighted that the latest round of awards [would] do so much to encourage young people to become involved in playing, singing or performing traditional music, especially in remote areas where transport or location can restrict [such] opportunities.' The recipients are as follows;

An Drochaid – Skye and Lochalsh Traditional Music Project, received GB£98,000 towards a three-year program of traditional music tuition, performance and training, with the aim of increasing access to, and participation in, traditional music on Skye.

Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association, has been granted GB£100,000 to begin a program of concerts with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Feisan Nan Gaidheal, Portree, will use its GB£70,000 grant to develop a new piece of Gaelic theatre for children, including support material for teachers and pupils.

Theatrical Management Association Ltd, London, were granted GB£51,837 to develop a series of residential marketing and audience development courses for performing and visual arts organisations in Scotland.

Taigh Chearsabhagh Trust, Lochmaddy, will use its GB£41,800 grant to develop a range of activities for teenagers on Uist and Barra, including a youth theatre project, a magazine, evening art clubs and craft tuition in boat building, wood turning and clay firing.

East Lothian Council Libraries Service, received GB£66,180 to develop reading groups for senior citizens, housebound people and teenagers, beginning in September 2002.

Visible Fictions Theatre Company, Paisley, has been granted GB£69,999 to develop three new dramas to be presented in schools by established playwrights.

St Magnus Festival, Orkney, will receive GB£67,542 to run an intensive, practical training course for conductors, running for ten days, either side of the existing festival.

Feis Latharna, Oban, has been granted GB£48,200 to employ a part-time workshop co-ordinator to provide music tuition for young people. Further details regarding each of the projects is available on the SAC website at;www.sac.org.uk/content/press_release.cfm?press_id=146