The Ed Sheeran Foundation (ESF) is collaborating with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to launch the Music in Libraries programme, a government initiative that will create dedicated music spaces in public libraries across England. The scheme, backed by at least £12.5 million from the Dormant Assets Scheme, aims to support music education outside the classroom and provide young people with free access to music mentorship and educational resources.
Government Investment and Application Process
The investment will allow all 152 library authorities in England to apply for funding. Libraries that participate will be able to host workshops, live performances, tutoring sessions, music studios, and recording booths equipped with state-of-the-art instruments and mixing desks. The programme is designed to leverage existing library infrastructure to expand access to music education, particularly for children and young people from underserved communities.
Ed Sheeran's Role and Inspiration
Ed Sheeran, one of the UK's most successful musicians, inspired the scheme after a conversation with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy during a visit to Brighten The Corners in Ipswich, a not-for-profit music and youth arts organisation supported by the Ed Sheeran Foundation. Sheeran had previously seen Scotland's We Make Music Instrument Libraries through Tinderbox, a Scottish music charity backed by his foundation, and recognized the potential of using libraries to broaden access to music education.
Foundation's Collaboration with Government
Since then, the Ed Sheeran Foundation has worked closely with Lisa Nandy and her team to develop the idea. In the coming months, the foundation and other partners will co-design the libraries' requirements and direction, drawing on the foundation's music library connections and expertise to maximize the programme's impact. Dr Renuka Fernando, CEO of the Ed Sheeran Foundation, stated: "The Music in Libraries programme is an important step forward for music education. 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."
Broader Impact on Music Education
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy emphasized the importance of the initiative, saying: "Music is our shared language. It brings people together, breaks down barriers and gives a voice to every community. At a time when too many people feel disconnected, music has never mattered more." She added: "As the song says, 'Every generation throws a hero up the pop charts.' But pop is getting posher, and that must change. 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."
In the UK, more than 50 per cent of children aged 10 to 12 visited a library in the last year. The new investment builds on the role libraries play in providing free access to learning and opportunities for children, ensuring equal opportunities to expand their knowledge and potential.
Expansion of Ed Sheeran Foundation's Aims
Previously focused on enhancing music education in schools, the Ed Sheeran Foundation is now broadening its aims to include out-of-school programmes and improved access to community music opportunities. This expansion follows Sheeran's success last year in helping to achieve the first substantial revision to England's music curriculum in ten years, after his open letter to the Prime Minister. To date, ESF has backed 22 grassroots organisations and youth clubs. Last year, Sheeran devoted much of his time to visiting schools and youth clubs across the country, listening directly to young people and teachers while exploring ways to bring music education to the fore.
Previous Achievements and Fundraising
In 2025, Ed Sheeran, alongside industry heavyweights including Harry Styles, Stormzy, and Annie Lennox, helped secure the UK Government's pledge to overhaul the music curriculum in England for the first time in over a decade. The curriculum changes included scrapping the EBacc measure to encourage pupils to study a wider range of GCSE subjects, including music and the arts, and a commitment to broadening the variety of music genres taught in schools. Last summer, Sheeran staged his debut exhibition with HENI Gallery, entitled Cosmic Carpark Paintings, where he sold his own original artworks, raising over $1.25 million for the foundation.
