During his visit in October, Minister for Culture, David Lammy, met with staff and observed a 20-minute singing workshop as well as collaboration between Dekforce 1 (Pie Factory Music's urban music orchestra) and Kent Music School, fusing turntables, human beatbox and traditional stringed instruments.

Thanet's Pie Factory Music is one of 24 YMAZ's in England and Wales, providing music-making activities to young people who might not otherwise have the opportunity.  Since its launch in December 2000, enormous progress has been made in a very difficult region which currently stands 83rd in the Top 100 deprived local authorities by income affecting children.  Pie Factory Music has sucessfully drawn in more than 21,500 participants, almost 11,000 of whom are first time experiences. 

Feedback indicates that the majority of participants feel a sense of achievement, improved confidence and self-worth after taking part in a music-making project. Thanet District Council's regeneration team originally put together the bid for Youth Music Action Zone, viewing the creation as an integral part of the regeneration of the area.

The Action Zone runs a varied programme of focussed and taster workshops including D'expressions, a progressional DJ, MC and music technology workshop; TRADS, which encompasses the traditional performing folk arts like song and dance with the occasional collaboration with music technology to bring a modern twist and Loud: Living, which focuses on band skills, composition and song-writing.

There are also carnival led musical creations such as Steel Pan drumming, African and/or Carribean rhythms and dance, as well as singing and an electro strings project - a new and innovative project aimed at breaking down the barriers and stereotypes associated with traditional string instruments by taking distinctive sounds and sampling them for use on Drum & Bass tracks, Hip Hop and so forth, Pie Factory Music has organised the area's first Hip Hop festival, as well as performances in over 40 other carnivals, festivals and parades, and has established the E-Ensemble, a traditional and non-traditional orchestra mix which allows and promotes young musicians to cross-over styles and explore new ideas of sound and rhythm. 

Pie Factory Music will continue to deliver activities to young people aged 0-18 in various music genres. They will focus on Early Years work, regularly supporting up to 30 parent and toddler groups/nurseries in the next 3 years - a significant and welcome development as in Thanet there is currently very little Youth Music funded activity taking place for 0-5s in this area. The zone will continue to work consistently in the most deprived wards of Thanet and positively engage those most hard to reach. There are still great challenges in this area of Kent, and the Pie Factory continue to meet them.

Key Facts

• By the end of 2005 20,000 children and young people will participate in one of the activities created by Pie Factory Music.
• Youth Music has awarded three grants to Pie Factory Music totalling £800,450
• Pie Factory Music has raised another £275,971 in partnership funding to date. This is both the largest sum and, at 46% of the Youth Music Award, the highest proportion of partnership funding raised by any Action Zone. 
  

For further press information please contact:
Dvora Lewis Public Relations
Tel: 020 7435 9257 Email: dl@dvoralewis.com

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_{Notes to Editors:}

_{1. Youth Music is one of the National Lottery's great success stories. Set up as a charity in 1999, Youth Music supports music-making activities for 0-18 year olds who would otherwise not get the chance.  By 2010, Youth Music aims to have reached 3 million children and young people in a UK-wide strategy to support youth music-making.  More information is available at www.youthmusic.org.uk}

_{2. Since December 2000, Youth Music has set up 24 Action Zones in areas of social and economic need across England and Wales. The aim is to provide music-making activities to young people who might not otherwise have the opportunity. The Zones are made up of established organisations from the public, voluntary and private sector. They cover all genres of music and deliver a wide range of activities including workshops, rehearsals, performances, one-to-one teaching and mentoring. More information is available at www.youthmusic.org.uk}