Inspire Youth Arts
Inspire Youth Arts is a publicly funded youth arts programme operated by Inspire: Culture, Learning & Libraries across Nottinghamshire, England, providing music, dance, digital arts, and creative performance opportunities for children and young people aged 2-25 through a regional library and community venue network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- Headquarters—
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Inspire Youth Arts does
Inspire Youth Arts is the youth-focused arts programme of Inspire: Culture, Learning & Libraries, a publicly funded cultural and educational services provider established in 2016 and operating across Nottinghamshire, England. The legal entity, "Culture, Learning and Libraries (Midlands), trading as Inspire," delivers services on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council and serves children and young people aged 2-25 through creative programming in music, dance, digital arts, and performance. Delivery is anchored to a regional network of 14+ Inspire library venues across Nottinghamshire's districts (Bassetlaw, Ashfield, Mansfield, Newark & Sherwood), supplemented by community centres, partner schools, and young people's venues such as the Eastwood Young People's Centre.
The product surface spans structured programmes including Inspire Youth Arts Events (featuring Proto-Type digital art groups, music and dance summer schools, and the Summer Sounds DJ series), the Able Orchestra for disabled and non-disabled young musicians, the I Am A Creator cultural programme (with branches I Am A Writer and I Am A Storyteller), Little Creatives workshops for under-5s, The Lullaby Bank for parents and babies, and Adventures in Music for ages 2-5. Inspire Youth Arts sits inside a broader platform that also operates Inspire College (vocational training for ages 16-24), Adult Learning, the Nottinghamshire Music Hub, the Nottinghamshire Libraries Network, and Nottinghamshire Archives. Technology adoption is limited and undisclosed: there are no proprietary applications, APIs, or AI capabilities in the disclosed material. Marketing occurs via the inspireculture.org.uk website, email newsletters, local social media, school partnerships, and Eventbrite ticketing.
Revenue mechanics follow a public-sector grant model rather than commercial pricing. Inspire is funded principally by Nottinghamshire County Council and Arts Council England through National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) status held continuously since 2016, with additional support from the Department for Education (Music Hub programme), the Education and Skills Funding Agency, the National Lottery, and the National Archives. Youth arts programmes are largely free or low-cost to ensure accessibility, with nominal fees on some summer schools and ticketed events. The organisation is governed by a board, employs 501-1,000 people across all Inspire divisions, and is registered as a UK GDPR data controller with the Information Commissioner's Office (registration ZA125839).
Inspire Youth Arts firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Inspire Youth Arts
- Legal name
- Culture, Learning and Libraries (Midlands), trading as Inspire
- Website
- https://inspireculture.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Inspire Youth Arts is a publicly funded youth arts programme operated by Inspire: Culture, Learning & Libraries across Nottinghamshire, England, providing music, dance, digital arts, and creative performance opportunities for children and young people aged 2-25 through a regional library and community venue network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Inspire Youth Arts industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Arts Education
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (61161), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Educational Services (61)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Early Childhood Music Education (Ages 0–7) (EDAMANAD), Arts & Design Camps (Visual Arts, Crafts, Design Thinking) (EDAMALAH)
Keywords
Inspire Youth Arts business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Public Funding: Inspire Youth Arts operates as a program under Inspire Culture, Learning and Libraries, funded primarily through Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation status and Nottinghamshire County Council partnerships.
- Program Fees: Some youth arts activities may have nominal fees; many programs are free or low-cost to ensure accessibility.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free and low-cost youth arts programs |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Inspire Youth Arts product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Inspire Youth Arts provides inclusive music, dance, and digital arts programming for children and young people aged 2-25 across Nottinghamshire. Offerings include the Proto-Type digital art groups, music and dance summer schools, the Summer Sounds DJ Series, the Able Orchestra inclusive ensemble, the I Am A Creator cultural programme, and early-years sessions such as Adventures in Music and Little Creatives. Programs are delivered through the Inspire library network, schools, and community venues, and are largely free or low-cost to ensure accessibility.
Product overview
Inspire - Culture, Learning & Libraries is a comprehensive cultural organization serving Nottinghamshire since 2016. The organization operates under a platform-plus-services architecture comprising: Inspire Youth Arts (youth arts programming including music, dance, digital arts, and performance workshops), I Am A Creator cultural programme, Able Orchestra, Inspire College (16-24 further education), Adult Learning services, a Libraries Network, Nottinghamshire Archives, and Nottinghamshire Music Hub. Inspire Youth Arts specifically delivers creative opportunities for young people through Inspire Youth Arts Events, Summer Sounds DJ Series, and partnerships with programs like Able Orchestra. The organization also provides community health and wellbeing programs including Lullaby Bank (parent-baby music sessions), Adventures in Music (early years music), and Little Creatives (under 5s arts workshops). Inspire is funded by Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation and delivers services on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Inspire Youth Arts: Arts program for children and young people under Inspire's Arts & Culture division
- Inspire College
- Inspire Learning
- Nottinghamshire Music Hub
Products and services
- Inspire Youth Arts Youth arts program providing creative opportunities for children and young people including music, dance, digital arts, and performance workshops across Nottinghamshire.
- Inspire Youth Arts Events Regular events and workshops for young people including Proto-Type digital art groups, music summer schools, dance summer schools, DJ series, and creative workshops.
- I Am A Creator A cultural programme with branches including I Am A Writer and I Am A Storyteller, working with libraries across Nottinghamshire and targeted groups in Bassetlaw, Ashfield, Mansfield, and Newark & Sherwood.
- Able Orchestra (AO) Inclusive music project featuring disabled and non-disabled young musicians from Nottinghamshire alongside professional orchestral players. The orchestra has performed at prestigious venues including BBC Proms at Royal Albert Hall.
- Summer Sounds: DJ Series Youth arts summer event series featuring DJ workshops and performances for young people, held at West Bridgford Young Peoples Centre.
- Lullaby Bank Music sessions for babies and expectant mothers including singing lullabies from around the globe, baby massage, and basic signing. Delivered by Inspire Music teachers in partnership with Music For Everyone.
- Adventures in Music Magical musical journey program for children aged 2-5 and their families using rhythm, music, and movement to develop language skills, spark imagination, and build confidence. Free sessions delivered at libraries.
- Little Creatives Monthly arts workshops for under 5s designed to help children explore materials and participate in creative activities, developed for children aged 2-5 and their families.
- Healthier Happier Connected Creative Programme featuring informal music concerts, hands-on creative workshops, and health activities to boost strength, balance and memory. Supported by National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Companies that use Inspire Youth Arts
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Inspire Youth Arts technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Inspire Youth Arts partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Out of the Ark MusicminorPartnership for nativity productions and Sparkyard song subscription service for primary schools, providing music education resources.
- Music For EveryoneminorPartnership delivering The Lullaby Bank program - music sessions for new mothers and babies aged 0-9 months.
- Mansfield Building SocietyminorSponsor of dementia-friendly film screenings at Mansfield Central Library.
- Nottinghamshire Music HubcoreMusic education partnership managed by Inspire, bringing music programs to young people across Nottinghamshire schools.
- National Youth Choirs of Great Britain (NYCGB)minorThree-year partnership between Inspire, NYCGB, Nottinghamshire Music Hub, and Nottingham Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall to improve musical attainment and experiences for young students.
- Arts Council EnglandcoreArts Council England provides core funding through National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) status, supporting Inspire's arts and cultural programming including youth arts initiatives. Inspire has held NPO status since 2016.
- Nottinghamshire County CouncilcorePrimary local authority partner commissioning library, learning, and cultural services. Inspire delivers culture, learning and libraries services on behalf of the council.
- Jazz StepsminorLongstanding partnership bringing live jazz performances to library audiences across Nottinghamshire. Jazz Steps Live at the Libraries celebrates 15 years of collaboration in 2026.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Inspire Youth Arts competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Roundhouse: London-based charity running creative arts programs (music, performance, digital) for 11–25 year olds. Comparable peer for the music/dance/digital-arts mix, free access for young people, and reliance on mixed public + trust + corporate funding.
- BRIT School: Free performing and creative arts school for 14–19 year olds in Croydon, publicly funded with industry partnerships. Comparable on free arts schooling for young people, inclusion focus, and multi-disciplinary (music, dance, digital) curriculum design.
- Snape Maltings / Aldeburgh Young Musicians: Suffolk-based music organization running intensive progression programmes for young instrumentalists. Comparable on year-round structured music education delivery, Arts Council-aligned funding base, and progression-route design similar to Inspire's NYCGB partnership.
- National Youth Choirs of Great Britain (NYCGB): National youth choral charity delivering training and performance opportunities for young singers across the UK. Directly comparable mission, age range, and Arts Council-aligned funding; Inspire Youth Arts is itself a delivery partner of NYCGB.
- Sistema Scotland (Big Noise): UK charity delivering free intensive music education to children in areas of multiple deprivation. Strongly comparable to Inspire Youth Arts on mission (inclusive youth music), free-to-access model, and reliance on public/grant funding across multiple regional sites.
- Wigmore Hall Learning: Concert hall education program delivering singing, instrumental and creative music-making for babies, children, and young people across London. Comparable on early-years through youth progression (parallel to Lullaby Bank, Adventures in Music, and youth ensembles) and free/low-cost public access model.
- In Harmony (Sistema England): Department for Education-backed music inclusion program delivering free ensemble-based music education in UK communities. Directly comparable to Inspire Youth Arts' Nottinghamshire Music Hub and Able Orchestra work on funding source, target audience, and orchestral/outcome focus.
- London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO Learning): Major UK orchestra delivering free education and participation programs for young people. Closely comparable to Able Orchestra's youth-orchestra model and Inspire's school-based delivery via Nottinghamshire Music Hub.
Broad incumbents
- Southbank Centre (Learning): Large national performing arts complex running wide-ranging education and young-people's programs across music, dance, and literature. Comparable on multi-disciplinary youth arts mandate and Arts Council alignment, but operates at much larger national scale and as a venue-led portfolio.
- Royal Albert Hall (Education): Major UK venue running national music and creative education programs for schools and young people, including the BBC Proms youth activities where Able Orchestra appeared. Comparable mission at greater scale; relevant as a touchstone for high-visibility youth performance pathways.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Inspire Youth Arts social profiles
Digital presenceInspire Youth Arts compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Inspire Youth Arts financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Inspire Youth Arts leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Inspire Youth Arts funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Inspire Youth Arts M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Inspire Youth Arts
What does Inspire Youth Arts do?
Inspire Youth Arts provides inclusive music, dance, and digital arts programming for children and young people aged 2-25 across Nottinghamshire. Offerings include the Proto-Type digital art groups, music and dance summer schools, the Summer Sounds DJ Series, the Able Orchestra inclusive ensemble, the I Am A Creator cultural programme, and early-years sessions such as Adventures in Music and Little Creatives. Programs are delivered through the Inspire library network, schools, and community venues, and are largely free or low-cost to ensure accessibility.
Is Inspire Youth Arts a public or private company?
Inspire Youth Arts is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Inspire Youth Arts founded?
Inspire Youth Arts was founded in 2016. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
How does Inspire Youth Arts make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Public Funding is the primary driver. The others are program Fees.
Who are Inspire Youth Arts's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Roundhouse, BRIT School, Snape Maltings / Aldeburgh Young Musicians, National Youth Choirs of Great Britain (NYCGB), Sistema Scotland (Big Noise), Wigmore Hall Learning, In Harmony (Sistema England) and London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO Learning). Broad incumbents are Southbank Centre (Learning) and Royal Albert Hall (Education).
Does Inspire Youth Arts have an API?
No public API is recorded for Inspire Youth Arts.
What industry is Inspire Youth Arts in?
Inspire Youth Arts's product category is Youth Arts Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAC, Arts Education & Community Arts Programs, with a secondary code of EDAMANAD, Early Childhood Music Education (Ages 0–7). Its NAICS code is 61161 and its SIC code is 8200.