Our Impact
Bristol Beacon is a place of welcome, warmth and light; an open invitation to the city for everyone to come and share in the joy of live music.
Since 1867 we have been at the heart of Bristol’s cultural life. We are so proud and grateful to have played such an important role in our city and the lives of our audiences for so long.
Some of the world’s biggest music stars have performed on our stage, including The Beatles, David Bowie, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Ella Fitzgerald, London Symphony Orchestra, Louis Armstrong, Blondie and Bob Dylan. As well as thousands of Bristolians through our schools and creative learning programmes.
Our ongoing multi-million pound transformation is set to create the world-class music centre that Bristol deserves.
Through Bristol Plays Music, the music education hub for the city, we aim to make Bristol the ‘UK Capital of Young People’s Music’.
The difference music makes
Bristol Beacon creates meaningful musical experiences for the people of Bristol to share in the joy of live music. On this page you can find a summary of the impact that our work has.
Our impact document gives more information about the difference we’re making beyond our four walls. Click below to download our most recent impact document.
Performance
Pre-transformation (2017/18)
- 600+ events
- Audience of c.300,000
- 15,000 artists & musicians
During transformation (2018/19)
- 200+ events
- 30+ partner venues including Trinity Centre, Fiddlers, The Exchange, St George’s Bristol
- 18% of artists we work with are people of colour
- 65% of audience were from a Bristol postcode
- 35% of audience were from wider region, national and international
Creative Learning and Engagement
- We work with 91% of Bristol Schools
- 7,000 hours per week of music tuition delivered
- £60,000 per year invested to support free music tuition for children in care and those with disabilities
- £400,000 invested over next 5 years in 13 schools in areas of high deprivation
- £46,000 invested per year in curriculum resources, including One Bristol Curriculum
- £400,000 invested in new community programme supported by Paul Hamlyn Foundation from 2020
- Hope Creative weekly music sessions for vulnerable young people living in care
“I just like coming here because I like making new friends”
– Hope Creative participant
Activity during the Covid-19 pandemic
- Over 17,000 views of Bristol Takeover Online programme in May and June 2020
- Over £15,000 raised to support Music Venue Trust & partner venues
- 12,000 people tuned in to watch The Lark Ascending Centenary from Tue 15 December 2020 – Fri 15 January 2021
- Partner in Bristol Arts Channel – a collaborative summer programme of events from multiple organisations across the city
- Over 300 young people supported via our Virtual Academy online music tuition at the height of the pandemic
- A New Song for Bristol city-wide song-writing project launched
- Regular Instrumental Lessons continued to take place in 61 schools
- Our Earthsong instrumental sessions are running in 35 schools
- 228 young people supported online to engage with our music centres
- Free online music tuition for young people with disabilities through our Flow Creative online programme – we currently have 11 young people with complex needs engaged in regular online music-making
- 5 young people supported by National Open Youth Orchestra engaging in one-to-one tuition
- Free online sessions for 32 young people in care through our Hope Creative online sessions
Our value for money
- £12 million gross value added contribution to Bristol’s economy each year
- £1.5 million invested into local artists, music leaders and tutors per year
- £200,000 spent with partner venues per year
- For every £1 invested by Bristol City Council, £8.30 is generated
- As a charity, every penny is reinvested in our programme
The impact of our Transformation
- Over £52 million raised to date
- £13 million projected contribution to Bristol’s economy in first year of reopening
- 273 full time equivalent jobs created
- Carbon neutral by 2030
- 3 state of the art performance spaces
- Recording and broadcast studios, education suites, rehearsal rooms and live stage facilities for emerging artists
Annual Report
Bristol Music Trust Annual Report 2018-19
Bristol Music Trust Annual Report 2017-18
Bristol Music Trust Annual Report 2016-17
Bristol Music Trust Annual Report 2015-16
Bristol Music Trust Annual Report 2014-15
Bristol Music Trust Annual Report 2013-14
Bristol Music Trust Annual Report 2012-13
Bristol Music Trust Annual Report 2011-12
Programme partners
National Foundation For Youth Music
Youth Music is the leading UK children's charity using music to transform the lives of disadvantaged young people.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
The Paul Hamlyn Foundation's mission is to help people overcome disadvantage and lack of opportunity, so that they can realise their potential and enjoy fulfilling and creative lives.
They have a particular interest in supporting young people and a strong belief in the importance of the arts.
National Lottery Heritage Fund
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the leading advocate for the value of heritage and the largest dedicated funder of heritage in the UK. Since 1994, The National Lottery Heritage Fund (previously Heritage Lottery Fund) has awarded £7.1billion to over 40,000 projects.
Bristol City Council
A major funder of Bristol Music Trust, Bristol City Council continue to support the best in arts and heritage and community across the city.
Department For Education
The Department for Education is responsible for children's services and education, including early years, schools, higher and further education.
Capital partners
Arts Council England
Arts Council England is the national development agency for the arts in England, distributing public money from the Government and the National Lottery.Bristol City Council
A major funder of Bristol Music Trust, Bristol City Council continue to support the best in arts and heritage and community across the city.
HM Treasury
HM Treasury is the government's economic and finance ministry, maintaining control over public spending, setting the direction of the UK's economic policy.National Lottery Heritage Fund
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the leading advocate for the value of heritage and the largest dedicated funder of heritage in the UK. Since 1994, The National Lottery Heritage Fund (previously Heritage Lottery Fund) has awarded £7.1billion to over 40,000 projects.
West Of England Combined Authority
Funded by the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership through the Local Growth Fund, administered by the West of England Combined Authority.
Awards
Family Arts Campaign
The Family Arts Campaign is a national Sector Support Organisation funded by Arts Council England to raise family engagement with arts and culture. They focus on increasing the amount and range of artistic work available to families, the quality of experience and improving marketing to reach more families.
Bristol Music Trust has signed up to The Family Arts Standards which gives clear guidance on how best to welcome families to arts organisations.
Attitude is Everything Silver Award
Attitude is Everything improves Deaf and disabled people’s access to live music by working in partnership with audiences, artists and the music industry to implement a Charter of Best Practice across the UK. We help the music industry to understand the requirements of Deaf and disabled people at live music events by building equality into the strategic process. The ethos of the Charter is that Deaf and disabled people should be as independent as they want to be at live music events.
Bristol Dementia Action Alliance
Bristol Dementia Action Alliance are part of an alliance of groups throughout the UK, working towards enabling communities to become more Dementia aware.
Bristol Beacon is a holder of The Purple Angel to mark our efforts to further spread Dementia Awareness.
Winner of the Music Education Council Major Award
Music Teacher Awards for Excellence 2017
Winner of Best Print Resource Award
Music Teacher Awards for Excellence 2017
Winner of Best Print Resource Award for Get on Board: Music Curriculum for Bristol.