| 'Take It Away' scheme hits right note |
|
|
|
|
A thousand new musicians are tuning up across England thanks to the Arts Council’s ‘Take it away’ loan scheme. £1.25 million worth of instruments have been purchased since its launch three months ago – enough to form ten full size orchestras. Take it away allows individuals to apply for a loan of up to £2,000 for the purchase of any kind of musical instrument, and pay it back in nine monthly instalments, completely interest free. Almost half of the people that have used the scheme are on low-incomes (£22,500 or below), meaning that individuals and families who wouldn’t usually be able to afford a new instrument can now make music. And 60 per cent of customers said the scheme had enabled them to make a purchase they couldn’t otherwise afford. So far, perhaps unsurprising with so many aspiring new bands out there, guitars are the most popular instrument totalling over a third of all purchases. But the rest of the orchestra isn’t losing out with woodwind sales (16 per cent), keyboards (14 per cent) and percussion instruments (12 per cent), coming on strongly. The average loan is over £500. Mary-Alice Stack, Development Manager, Arts Council England said, “People’s response has been fantastic. We knew Take it away would be popular but even we are amazed by how quickly it’s taken off. People are obviously hungry for music so we hope sales in the run-up to Christmas will be even better.” As well as those on low incomes, children and young people have also benefited, with 25 per cent of all purchases made on behalf of someone under 18. Jonathan Thorne, Managing Director of MIFCO said, “Three months on, the Take it away partnership between the Arts Council and MIFCO has proven a big success not least of all because the scheme is so quick, simple and easy to understand.” Visit www.takeitaway.org.uk to find your nearest Take it away retailer. October 2007 |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|