British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is backing a new £12.5 million government initiative that will transform public libraries across England into creative spaces for music, giving young people free access to recording studios, mentoring, and live performance opportunities.
The programme, called Music in Libraries, was announced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, DCMS, on July 21, 2026. More than 150 library authorities in England will be eligible to apply for funding through the government’s Dormant Assets Scheme — money from unclaimed financial products that is redirected to public benefit projects.
The initiative was co-designed with the Ed Sheeran Foundation, alongside teachers, youth organisations and music industry experts
Under the plan, successful libraries will be able to set up dedicated music areas. That includes recording booths, mixing desks, and other production equipment. But it goes beyond gear.
Libraries taking part will also host workshops, mentoring sessions, and live performances aimed at aspiring musicians who may not otherwise have access to music training or facilities.
The goal is simple: take music out of expensive studios and private schools, and put it into community spaces that are already free and open to everyone.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the programme was inspired by a 2024 visit she made with Sheeran to Brighten The Corners, a not-for-profit live music and youth arts organisation in Ipswich. It also draws on Scotland’s We Make Music model, which has used libraries to expand access to music-making
Announcing the wider plan to support grassroots music, Nandy said the government wants to reverse years of cuts to creative subjects.
“As the song says, ‘Every generation throws a hero up the pop charts.’ But pop is getting posher, and that must change,” she said.
“Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. After a decade of mindless vandalism that stripped culture and creativity from too many classrooms and communities, we are putting music back at the heart of education, investing in creative careers and backing grassroots music across the country.
Her comments reflect a growing concern in the UK music industry that rising costs of instruments, lessons, and studio time are pricing working-class kids out of music careers.
Dr Renuka Fernando, chief executive of the Ed Sheeran Foundation, welcomed the announcement and said libraries could play a critical role in widening access.By expanding access to music beyond the classroom, our library network can help ensure that children and young people from communities across England have the opportunity to engage with music, regardless of where they live,” she said.
Sheeran has been campaigning for stronger investment in music education for years. In 2025, he joined other leading artists in writing to the government urging better protection for music in schools. His foundation has also funded music programmes in schools, libraries and youth centres across the UK.
For Sheeran, who grew up writing songs and playing small gigs, the idea of free, local access to music-making equipment is personal. He has often spoken about how early opportunities shaped his career
Music in Libraries is not the only new investment. The government announced it as part of a broader support package for the music sector.
That includes an additional £15 million for the Music Growth Package, which funds emerging artists, tours, and independent labels. There are also proposed changes to make licensing easier for small music events, and new measures aimed at giving festivals and grassroots venues more long-term stability.
The combination is intended to support musicians at every stage — from a teenager recording their first song in a library, to an independent artist touring the country
Libraries are already trusted community hubs. They are free, local, and used by people of all ages and backgrounds. Turning them into music spaces lowers the barrier to entry in a way that private lessons or commercial studios cannot.
The model has worked in Scotland, where We Make Music has helped libraries offer instruments, workshops and performance nights. Early data from that programme showed increased participation from young people in deprived areas.
If replicated in England, Music in Libraries could reach hundreds of thousands of young people. The DCMS said the funding will be distributed competitively, with libraries able to apply for grants to build or upgrade music facilities and run programmes
The announcement comes at a time when music education in UK schools has been under pressure. Budget cuts, curriculum changes, and a focus on STEM subjects have led to fewer music teachers and fewer instruments in classrooms.
Artists and educators have warned that without intervention, the UK risks losing the diversity that has long defined its music scene.
This library programme is an attempt to fill that gap outside the school system. It won’t replace classroom music, but it offers an alternative path — one where a young person can walk into their local library and record a song, learn production, or perform for the first time.
Library authorities now have the opportunity to apply for funding. The DCMS said details of the application process will be released in the coming weeks, with the first hubs expected to open in 2027.
For the Ed Sheeran Foundation, the project is the latest step in a long-term commitment to music education. For the government, it is a test of whether community spaces can help revive grassroots creativity.
Nandy summed up the ambition: music should not be limited by postcode or income.every kid with a melody in their head should have somewhere to play it,” she said. With £12.5 million and 150 libraries in play, England is about to find out how many do.
