Ignite Arts is a Scottish charity creating inclusive, high-quality music opportunities that bring people together.

We believe that everyone should have the chance to make music, regardless of age, background, disability, income, location or previous experience. Our projects are designed to remove some of the barriers that can make taking part in music difficult, while creating welcoming spaces where people can learn, connect and feel that they belong.

Our work currently centres around three programmes: Deafinitely Musical, creating accessible music opportunities for d/Deaf children and young people; Clarsach for Communities, making Scotland’s national instrument more accessible through affordable community-based learning; and Song Sanctuary, promoting maternal mental health through singing, music and connection.

Although each project is different, they share the same starting point: listening to communities and identifying where opportunities are missing.

Why we exist

Music can have a powerful impact on confidence, wellbeing, creativity and social connection. But access to music-making is not equal.

Cost can be a barrier. So can geography, disability, lack of local provision, confidence, or simply feeling that existing opportunities are not designed with you in mind.

Ignite Arts was created to develop practical, ambitious responses to those gaps.

Rather than expecting people to fit into existing models of music provision, we aim to create programmes around the people and communities we work with.

That might mean providing instruments so that someone does not need to own a harp before joining a class. It might mean bringing music activities directly into a rural community. It might mean ensuring d/Deaf children can learn from d/Deaf musicians and see people like themselves making and leading music.

Accessibility is not something we add at the end of a project. It shapes how our work is designed from the beginning.

What matters to us

Access
We work to reduce financial, geographical, practical and attitudinal barriers to taking part in music.

Quality
Inclusive music-making should also be excellent music-making. We work with skilled professional musicians and practitioners and place artistic quality at the heart of our projects.

Community
Music gives people a reason to come together. We create spaces where relationships can grow alongside musical skills.

Representation
We believe people should be able to see themselves represented in the musicians, teachers and leaders they encounter.

Listening
Our projects develop in response to real communities. We listen, learn and adapt rather than assuming that one model will work for everyone.

Building something that lasts

We want our projects to create more than a single workshop or short-term experience.

That means building long-term partnerships, developing practitioners, increasing access to instruments, supporting emerging musicians and creating pathways through which people can continue making music.

Our ambition is simple: to help more people experience the creativity, confidence, friendship and sense of belonging that music can bring.