Young People from Milton Keynes will be researching how Garage music has become a common language bringing communities together, thanks to a £23,400 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Young Roots programme.
Living Archive, Close to Home youth workers and the Energiser Bus Project will work with around thirty young people, aged 13 – 18 years, engaging them in making music and exploring aspects of their lives. These young people live in the inner-city areas of Milton Keynes and are from very different ethnic origins (mainly African, Caribbean and Asian but also Irish and British) and they all find a connection through music, in particular Garage music.
Milton Keynes is a city of first and second generation immigrants. During the 1970s young families flocked to MK from London and around the country. In the past ten years immigrants from many other countries have arrived in MK for many different reasons. This award will enable the project to explore what brings people to MK, what keeps them here and what their common ground is by giving local young people the opportunity, over the next five months, to explore their own eclectic musical origins and heritage and to create music, films and a website”.
Commenting on the award, Faye Gilbert, Filmmaker and Artistic Director at Living Archive, said: 'We are delighted with the award from The Heritage Lottery Fund. This is a big and exciting project with lots of different elements. It is Garage music that motivates and brings young people together. They are very keen to explore the roots of this music by investigating the links it has with their own music heritage. They are excited by the idea of visiting museums, libraries, archives and interviewing community and family members
For the Heritage Lottery Fund, Helen Rand, Young Roots Co-ordinator for South East England, said: ‘’The project will use popular music to introduce the young participants to a range of skills including research, filming, editing and website developing.’’
The project will culminate in music performances, film screenings and a website, details will be available later. A DVD containing all the elements of the project will be produced.
For further information, please contact: Jane Jeavons, Administrator for Young People’s Film Productions at Living Archive on 01908 322568 or email
Notes to Editors
Living Archive exists to help people share a strong sense of community and pride through collecting and celebrating their lives and place through high quality artistic and creative activities. Projects focus on participation, with the participants' life stories usually being our subject matter.
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. From our great museums and historic buildings to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up our nation’s heritage for everyone to enjoy. This year marks the 10th birthday of the Lottery. Since its conception, HLF has supported 16,600 projects allocating over £3.3 billion across the UK.
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