Spotify x Youth Music Open Doors Fund

With grassroots youth music spaces closing at an alarming rate, in 2025 Spotify and Youth Music created the Open Doors Fund to support the next generation of artists — because tomorrow’s talent needs a place to begin.

Now in its second year, the fund is supporting 23 grassroots organisations, providing vital resources to spaces where young people create and connect, especially in underserved communities.

Throughout 2026, the partnership will help youth music spaces stay open, accessible, and inspiring.

Spotify x Youth Music Open Doors Fund

Now in its second year, the fund is supporting 23 grassroots organisations, providing vital resources to spaces where young people create and connect, especially in underserved communities.

Throughout 2026, the partnership will help youth music spaces stay open, accessible, and inspiring.

In July 2026 we invited funded partners and members of our NextGen Community to Spotify HQ for a day of workshops and meaningful off and on-stage conversations, with performances from Nia Smith and BINA.

The artists of tomorrow need a place to begin.

Help protect youth music projects, one space at a time.

34%

young people in the UK say there aren't enough youth spaces in their area.

75%

feel youth clubs help develop creative talents.

47%

believe that a career in the arts was never a realistic option for them.

Organisations Supported by the Open Doors Fund (2026)

African French Speaking Community Support

African French Speaking Community Support (AFCS) deliver youth-led music workshops supporting young people from asylum and refugee backgrounds in Birmingham, Sandwell and Dudley, enabling them to learn, produce, and showcase music.

Illustration of the front of the Arts Education Exchange building

Arts Education Scheme

Arts Education Exchange is a Thanet-based charity delivering alternative art and music education, creative therapies and advocacy for young people aged 8–25, re-connecting young people to their creative potential.

Two toddlers and an adult play with a guitar - we only see the hands.

Babigloo Music for Babies

Babigloo Music for Babies delivers non-verbal music led sessions to parents with babies aged 0-12 months. Music is at the heart of everything they do.

Nine people, several with visible Disabilities, play with music instruments in a classroom environment

Billy and Andy’s Music School

Billy & Andy’s Music School creates inclusive music-making opportunities for Disabled and Neurodivergent people, building confidence, community, self-expression, and pride through creativity.

Two young people in front of a computer using a music software

Bollo Studios

Bollo Studios runs open access and targeted music provision for young people aged 12-25, primarily in youth work settings, from introductions to music production to performances at major festivals.

Black and white picture of four people standing against a wall full of graffiti.

Crawley Community Youth Service

Crawley Community Youth Service (CCYS) is a charity providing inclusive rock clubs and creative opportunities for local young people, building confidence, friendships, and skills through music.

Two young children laugh at someone out of frame. One of them have a

Creative Futures

Creative Futures specialises in music and creative programmes with children under 5, their parents and educators, and with vulnerable children and young people across London.

Creative Youth Network

Creative Youth Network supports young people to shape their futures through creativity, trusted relationships and opportunity—helping them build confidence, wellbeing and pathways into education, employment and leadership.

An adult and a child laugh together. The child has pencils in their hands and the adult is kneeing to their level.

darts

darts is Doncaster's Centre of Creative Health and Learning. They create art with people in Doncaster to improve life, learning and health.

Public in front of a scenario. The venue is dark and there's a screen at the front.

Drake Music

Drake Music are leaders in music, disability and technology. They are innovators, educators, curators and advocates. They use new technologies and ideas to open up access to music for all. Their vision is a world where Disabled and Non-Disabled musicians work together as equals.

Hastings Fat Tuesday

Hastings Fat Tuesday Club is a youth music project designed to encourage and nurture young musicians from all backgrounds, focusing on improving confidence through original songwriting and collaboration.

A outdoors party with a DJ and adults and children dancing

Knowle West Media Centre

Knowle West Media Centre runs creative arts and tech activities for young people, including music and sound workshops and events for local young people in South Bristol.

Four people under the lights of a scenario. One is signing, another in the drums, another is playing the guitar and the last one is at the keyboards

Midlands Arts Centre (MAC)

Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) is a creative home for Birmingham’s young people, giving them space to make music, express themselves, build community and be heard.

Group of young people in a round table with facilitator

Music: Leeds

Music: Leeds’ Launchpad programme provides support and signposting for musicians, artists, music businesses and music industry professionals in Yorkshire. Launchpad provides advice, funding, showcase opportunities, workshops, skills development and networking for the music sector in Yorkshire, with a focus on those in emerging careers.

Three young people together playing guitar.

My Pockets

My Pockets is an award-winning creative studio working with communities to make music, art and films. They inspire young people to pick up musical instruments, have fun, be themselves and make things.

A band of five young people playing instruments

Phizzical Productions

Tomorrow's stories, today's sound. Phizzical develops emerging young South Asian musicians, combining artistic excellence, entrepreneurship and industry connections to build sustainable, diverse creative careers.

A person shows four young people musical equipment

Raw Material

Raw Material is a music and creative careers centre in Brixton, housing industry standard studios, production suites and live rehearsal/performance spaces. Through music, we nurture creativity, talent, facilitate professional ambition and improve mental resilience/wellbeing.

Reprezent

Reprezent transforms lives through award-winning training at London's only youth-led radio station, helping thousands of young people turn talent into careers doing what they love.

Five young people playing instruments together in a room.

Southend YMCA

All In Music is Southend YMCA’s inclusive programme supporting vulnerable, disadvantaged and disabled young people through music-making, developing confidence, skills, wellbeing and pathways into education and careers.

A young child playing drums with an adult. In the background another adult with a child watch the scene.

Spark Arts for Children

The Spark Arts for Children supports children’s creative potential with a year-round cultural programme of theatre, music, dance and combined arts. Our vision is to create extraordinary experiences for children, sparking creativity and change.

mic headphones and production on a computer

Rising Stars North West CIC

Rising Stars North West is a social enterprise in Greater Manchester. They deliver weekly music production, recording, and rehearsal workshops for young people facing barriers in Stockport.

Three adults and twi babies play and listen to the sound of instruments

Suffolk Art Link

Little Beats is an early years music program providing quality, accessible musical engagement for 0-5s and their families, with an ethos of child-centred and child-led musical play.

14 young people in a scenario. Four are seating and the rest are standing up, all looking at the camera

Sunderland Culture

Right Track is a music project based in Washington, Tyne and Wear that supports young people to develop skills, confidence and creativity through workshops, mentoring, and opportunities to make, perform and share music.

"This partnership between Youth Music and Spotify is a welcome contribution. Along with our Supporting Grassroots Music Fund, we can collectively continue to do more to secure the future of these vital community assets and protect the talent pipeline."

Lisa Nandy

Lisa Nandy, UK Culture Secretary

Help us go further

It takes all of us. With your help, we can protect more vital youth music spaces for children and young people.

Donate Now To Youth Music