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Music and Dance Scheme: Performing Arts

Asked by Anna SabineLiberal DemocratDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled Answered 11 March 2026UIN 118073

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Music and Dance Scheme Schools on the performing arts sector.

Answered by Ian Murray

This government is committed to broadening access to arts education, including specialist training for our most promising musicians and dancers irrespective of their personal or financial background through the Music and Dance Scheme. The scheme supports the Creative Industries Sector Plan commitment to increase access to quality specialist creative education provision across England to strengthen our cadre of highly trained young musicians, dancers and performing artists.

My department works closely with the Department for Education who continues to fund the scheme, providing means-tested support to over 2,000 students from lower-income families. The Department for Education currently provides £36.5 million for the MDS this academic year and future funding will be announced in due course.

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