HEFCE Commends Trinity Laban for Exceptional ‘Extra-Curricular’ Work

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has pinpointed Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance as one of eight of the UK’s models of excellence in knowledge transfer and public engagement in a report on the Higher Education sector*.  Trinity Laban is the only specialist arts organisation on the list.

The report was released as HEFCE, set up by the UK government to distribute public money to Higher Education institutions, announced the fourth round of its Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) which provides funding for university strategies for engagement with the wider world.  

Levels of funding are dependant on current achievement in this area.  Pro rata to its size (measured in terms of staff numbers), by 2010 Trinity Laban will have received the second largest funding allocation for this type of activity of any Higher Education institution in the country, second only to the London Business School, reflecting the organisation’s exceptional commitment to ‘extra-curricular’ work.

Trinity Laban is recognized for its innovative community, education and knowledge transfer programmes.  These include:

• Extensive community and education work including Isle of Dogs Music which brings together people of all ages and ethnicities in Tower Hamlets; Raising the Roof which, in partnership with Lewisham and Greenwich Music Services, brings innovative music education to schools; and Dance Ability, integrated dance projects for disabled children and young people
• A diverse performance schedule with venues including Laban Theatre, Blackheath Halls and The Old Royal Naval College Chapel.  During the 2006/7 academic year Trinity Laban public performances drew over 71,000 audience members with 25,000 of those attending free of charge
• Pre-higher education training including Junior Trinity which is attended by 270 three to nineteen year olds on a weekly basis and Laban’s Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) attended by 60 young people a week, plus a wide-ranging programme of adult and youth dance classes
• One of the country’s leading dance and music science departments which has recently received research funding of over £230K from The Leverhulme Trust
• Public access to specialist facilities including one of the largest Pilates Studios in the country and Laban’s Injury Clinic
• Popular summer schools and conferences

For more information on Trinity Laban’s work please see www.trinitylaban.ac.uk