SMART exists to ensure that young people in Suffolk have access to arts opportunities to enrich their lives. We provide funding to help Suffolk’s young people access high-quality music and arts opportunities. We raise these funds by bringing together the skills, passion and experience of our supporters and alumni.  

 

We strongly believe that all young people should have access to artistic opportunities, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, class, disability, religious beliefs, race or ethnicity. 

 

We are a small charity, set up as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, and are run entirely by volunteers. Our roots are in music, growing out of our close links with the Suffolk County Music Service, and we embrace all forms of arts.  Our trustees are located in Suffolk, across the UK and Finland, and have a range of connections to Suffolk, music, education and the arts.

 

SMART was formed in 2018, following a concert which brought together 74 past and current members of Suffolk Youth Music ensembles to celebrate Philip Shaw’s retirement as Head of Suffolk's County Music Service. Since then we have focused on building our funds through a variety of events and member-driven fundraising activities, including playing at Latitude Festival with an orchestra made up of our members. ​Through our grants and scholarships we offer support to talented and committed young people across Suffolk.