The Ewart Library in Dumfries is home to a wonderful new project making musical instruments available to people who need them.
We Make Music Instrument Libraries is a new project I was thrilled to learn about recently and I couldn’t be more excited to share news of it. Thanks to a collaboration between Dumfries Music Collective (DMC), and the Dumfries & Galloway Instrumental Music Service, people from right across the region can now borrow musical instruments, just like borrowing a book. The musical instrument loan service is completely free, totally accessible, and open to all ages. Anyone who would like to try a musical instrument so see if they are suited to learning, or who needs to borrow an instrument so they can learn to play it, can do so using this brilliant musical library.
This initiative is supported by Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative and delivered in partnership with the Music Education Partnership Group (MEPG). Its aim is to break down barriers to playing an instrument and focusses on giving everyone the chance to explore music as a creative pursuit.Hagen Patterson, Director of DMC, said it perfectly,
“We are thrilled to establish a music instrument library, for the first time, across Dumfries & Galloway. The We Make Music Instrument Libraries initiative at The Ewart Library will help people experience the joy of music and learning a musical instrument. This wonderful project, in partnership with Dumfries & Galloway Instrumental Music Service highlights how local libraries are much more than books.”
We couldn’t agree more. Libraries are such important community spaces – safe, social, and full of potential – and this new instrument library adds to the magic. From guitars and ukuleles to keyboards and violins, there are over 20 instruments to choose from. A recent event was held to celebrate the launch of the project where folks had a chance to try out the instruments, meet the tutors, find out more, and they enjoyed live performances too. An initial six-week block of free workshops is currently running, all designed to help people get to know their chosen instrument.
Congratulations to DMC, who are also members of DG Unlimited. Thanks to you all for bringing this to our region. It’s a brilliant example of creativity in action and of making the creative arts more inclusive. If you know someone who’s always wanted to play an instrument but has found it difficult to access, let them know about this new project. Come on, let’s all make some noise about this!
Find out more at wearedmc.