BBC Performing Arts Fund launches Young People's Musical Theatre scheme

The BBC Performing Arts Fund has launched a new scheme that aims to encourage young people to take part in musical theatre.

The new initiative, called the Young People's Musical Theatre scheme, is offering £200,000 in grants for training and development, and particularly for projects that encourage new members or audiences. The scheme is open to non-profit theatre groups which have a youth section, or are made up of members who are under the age of 25.

Theatre groups applying should regularly put on musical theatre productions, but funding is also available for those wishing to produce a musical for the first time. Theatre companies may for example wish to work with other local groups or schools, run workshops with professionals, or apply for funding in order to hire a live band, director or choreographer.

Partners of the scheme include the Voluntary Arts Network, the Media Trust and the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA).

Theatre groups interested in applying for funding should visit the BBC Performing Arts Fund website or the Fund's facebook page, or go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/performingartsfund/ for more information.

Each application will be independently assessed.

The deadline is 30 November 2010. The winners will be announced in January 2011.