Regional partnership

The College's role is to support and enhance the excellent work being done by schools, youth theatres, music services to inspire young people and the arts across Wales.

Building on this work, our new regional partnership centres, will ensure we are a central part of a crucial network of support. 

Schools, Further Education colleges and community organisations will be connected through three regional centres in North, Mid-West and South Wales, launching over the next year.  Working with both national and local partners, the centres will focus on strengthening existing activity and improving connectivity.

In each regional centre, hosted in a partner’s space, a designated local RWCMD member of staff will work collaboratively to support existing activity and ensure pathways into professional training are visible and accessible.

This joined-up approach means more opportunities for young people to take part and progress, whether they’re just starting out or already developing their skills.

Over time, Open aims to evolve this work into a National Future Talent Programme for Wales, comparable to Centres for Advanced Training in England but designed to reflect Welsh geography, language and culture. 

This would require additional future investment, but would provide a coherent Wales-wide pathway with bursary support, mentoring and national access to world-class training.

The programme would focus on young people in state education who show potential but may lack access to opportunities.

Through collaboration with partners, including organisations such as Future Talent and National Open Youth Orchestra, the pathway aims to:

• widen access to high-quality musical experiences
• support progression into further study and training
• strengthen talent development across Wales