Using the Traditional Music Review to shape your project  

 

You don’t have to read the Arts Council of Wales Traditional Music Review before applying, but if you’re looking for inspiration, it’s a great place to start.  

 

The Review was commissioned by the Arts Council of Wales to understand what the traditional music sector in Wales needs right now. It captures the voices of over 200 musicians, educators, organisers, and audiences, offering a collective picture of where the energy, opportunities and gaps lie.  

 

The report highlights both the strength and fragility of the scene. It shows a wealth of knowledge, creativity and good practice across Wales but also a need for better connections, visibility and support. Projects funded by this scheme can help meet some of these needs.  

It’s important to note that although the Review found that artists’ creative development is an important factor, projects with a sole focus on this aspect are currently outside the scope of this fund.   

 

You might use the Review to:  

• Identify where your work could fill a gap or strengthen a network.  

• Spot opportunities to collaborate with others or build links between communities.  

• Find ideas for projects that respond to real challenges in the sector.  

• Show how your idea builds on the voices of others in the traditional music community.  

  

Project ideas linked to the Review’s findings  

Here are some ways artists could turn the Review’s key themes into strong project ideas:  

 

1. Grassroots and Community Learning  

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Challenge: The Review found that access to traditional music often depends on who you know or where you live.  

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Project ideas:  

• Create a local tune club or informal learning group open to new players.  

• Develop bilingual community resources such as tune collections, video tutorials, or guides for starting sessions, and implement them in a series of sessions.   

• Support community-led music gatherings that bring people together to learn tunes and share traditions.  

• Offer introductory workshops in local halls or cultural spaces, making it easy for beginners to get involved.    

 

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2. Grassroots Opportunities for Young People 

 

Challenge: The Review highlighted a lack of grassroots opportunities for children and young people. If most traditional music activity is aimed at adults — such as evening events or pub sessions — how can young people with no prior experience discover it, try it out, and take part regularly? 

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Project ideas: 

• Bring live traditional music into schools by partnering with a local venue or visiting artists. 

• Use Night Out’s Young Promoters Scheme to support children to organise their own community gigs. 

• Offer “try-an-instrument” sessions in partnership with your local music service. 

• Work with a creative practitioner to set up regular school-based activity, such as an after-school traditional music group, folk band or dance group. 

• Link with a local festival to create a performance opportunity for your group. 

• Make sure young people know about further development opportunities, such as traditional music youth camps. 

 

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3. Knowledge Sharing and Mentoring  

 

Challenge: Much traditional knowledge is held by individuals and needs support to be passed on.  
 

Project ideas:  

• Pair experienced tradition-bearers with newer musicians or community organisers to share repertoire and teaching methods.  

• Run intergenerational workshops where older and younger players learn side by side.  

• Document and share teaching approaches or repertoire for others to use after the project.  

  

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4. Visibility and Access  

 

Challenge: The public still finds traditional music hard to find — information is scattered and opportunities are often hidden.  
 

Project ideas:  

• Develop a local or online hub connecting community sessions, tune clubs, resources and organisers and deliver some collaborative sessions across groups.  

• Create an online resource sharing tunes, stories, or interviews from your area. 

• Host an open community event or taster day where people can learn tunes, hear stories, and connect with others involved in the tradition.  

  

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5. Inclusion and Representation  

 

Challenge: Some communities and cultural groups feel underrepresented in the traditional music landscape.  

 
Project ideas:  

• Collaborate with musicians from varying traditions to explore repertoire, traditions and methods of sharing with communities.  

• Work with local organisers to make sessions more accessible and welcoming – perhaps through translation, travel support or finding appropriate venues – and try out the new model. 

• Research and document local stories, tunes or traditions from underrepresented voices, sharing them through workshops or community sessions.  

    

 

6. Collaboration and Sector Building  

 

Challenge: The Review calls for more joined-up working, stronger leadership, and sector-wide communication.  

 
Project ideas:  

• Bring together regional tune clubs or organisers to co-create resources or plan shared gatherings.  

• Develop joint training or toolkits for community leaders focusing on teaching methods, accessibility or safeguarding, and implement them in your participatory work. 

• Pilot a community-to-community exchange where two groups visit each other to share tunes, language, and ideas.  

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