UWE Bristol and Bristol Music Trust, the charitable trust that runs the Colston Hall, have agreed a new strategic partnership.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two set out a framework for new strands of collaboration. It also includes the city’s music education hub Bristol Plays Music, which is also run by Bristol Music Trust. 
Lasting initially for five years, the partnership includes a shared commitment to developing industry-leading educational facilities at Colston Hall; providing musical excellence for ambitious young musicians – including those with special educational needs and disabilities; and working together to champion talent development, diversity and skill as part of Bristol’s vibrant music and cultural scene.
UWE associate dean of strategic partnerships for the Faculty of Arts, Creative Industries and Education, Louise Jennings, said: “This new strategic partnership marks our joint commitment to enhancing the cultural and creative education of communities of Bristol.
“We are really excited to be working with Bristol Music Trust to develop world-class music education facilities at Colston Hall, and are committed to working with Bristol Music Trust to deliver a creative and cultural curriculum for Bristol.”
Bristol Music Trust chief executive Louise Mitchell added: “This new partnership is a fantastic opportunity for us to enhance cultural and creative experiences in Bristol.
“Through our transformation programme and UWE Bristol’s city campus, we will develop shared music facilities, enabling students and staff to develop professional practice in an inspiring learning environment.
“From Key Stage 1 to university level, we will provide through education, with the transformed Hall acting as the specialist music recourse for the city campus.
“We will work together to drive inclusion and people’s creativity across the city, which is part of everything we do. It will also feed into our plan to secure Centre for Advanced Training status for the Hall, providing musical excellence for ambitious young musicians, including people with special educational needs and disabilities.
“We look forward to working with UWE over the coming years as we continue to build upon Bristol’s reputation as a leader in music education.”
Colston Hall’s £45m transformation campaign Thank You for the Music was launched in September 2014. Since then the Government, Bristol City Council, Arts Council England, and most recently Heritage Lottery Fund have made commitments to the project. Combined with private donations, the total pledge is currently just over £30m.
Colston Hall will be the last of the main concert halls in the country to have undergone a major redevelopment since the 1980s and works are due to start in the Hall’s 150th year in 2017, ready for opening in 2019.
