Irene Taylor Trust receives £40,000 National Lottery funding to continue The Lullaby Project

27 Feb 2019 02:57 PM

Irene Taylor Trust has been awarded £40,000 in National Lottery Project Grant funding to continue their Lullaby Project.

The project, devised by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute in the US, was brought to the UK in 2017, with two pilot projects working with migrant and refugee mothers in East London; and with fathers in HMP Wandsworth, to work with professional musicians to write a personal lullaby for their children.

The aim of the project is to strengthen the bond between parent and child through a creative arts activity.

Two women are standing in front of musicians in a community hall setting, singing at music stands, with a woman kneeling and recording the music, and a child trying to get one of the singer's attention

Image: Micha Theiner

“My job is a privilege as I get to witness people from all walks of life finding inspiration and hope from creating original music”, said Sara Lee, Artists Director at Irene Taylor Trust.

“The pilot Lullaby Projects were especially moving experiences; I supported the parents to create something beautiful and meaningful for their children and watched as both parent and child were celebrated musically at each of the performances. I’m thrilled that we now have the opportunity to take the project to new areas with our partner the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.”

With this new funding, they will deliver three projects in prisons and three in community settings in Hull, Suffolk (Lowestoft and Hollesley), Tower Hamlets and Surrey, and aim to create original lullabies with 60 parents, as well as reaching new audiences and developing the skills and experience of their artistic team.

“Lullaby is a remarkable and important project, one which the RPO feel privileged to be a part”, said James Williams, Managing Director at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

“This project empowers people who are often denied a voice and provides an opportunity to tell their story and to create new ones using the medium of music. And that is the power of projects such as Lullaby - working in partnership with community groups, in areas across England, to create something meaningful, honest and sincere for participants and their families”.

Three women are smiling and laughing at music stands and recording microphones

Image: Micha Theiner

“Making and experiencing arts and culture transforms quality of life for individuals and communities”, said Joyce Wilson, Area Director, London at Arts Council England.

“This collaboration between the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and The Irene Taylor Trust extends music and artistic opportunities to those who might not normally be able to access them.”

From over 23 years of delivering transformative ‘Music in Prisons’ projects nationwide, The Irene Taylor Trust have gained sought-after expertise of creating new music with individuals with complex needs in the criminal justice system.

For more information visit The Irene Taylor Trust.