Responding to the Arts Everywhere Fund
February 21, 2025
Rebalancing the Curriculum
March 20, 2025
The Lathums, Curious Minds, and the Chance to See Fund.
The recent spotlight on Ezra Collective at the BRIT Awards reminds us of something fundamental: early access to arts and culture transforms lives. When these talented musicians speak about community, legacy, and the formative spaces that shaped them, they’re highlighting exactly what we at Curious Minds have always known—early cultural experiences are not luxuries but necessities for young people to thrive.
That’s why we are so proud that, alongside The Lathums, we co-created the Chance to See Fund. The Lathums’ deep commitment to their hometown of Wigan shows how artists can come full circle—giving back to their community, from being inspired young people themselves to becoming the inspiration for the next generation.
Ezra Collective’s journey from youth clubs and grassroots music venues to winning the Mercury Prize for Music and now BRIT Award recognition exemplifies why our Chance to See Fund is so vital. Their success story began with access—to instruments, mentorship, performance spaces, and to the transformative experience of seeing live music.
Every child deserves these opportunities, regardless of their background or circumstances. Yet we know that for too many young people, financial barriers stand in the way of experiencing the very cultural events that might inspire their own creative journeys.
The Chance to See Fund directly addresses this inequality by covering the costs that prevent participation – from buying instruments, paying for singing lessons to tickets, food and transport. It is our promise that financial circumstances will never determine who gets to be inspired and creating pathways for young people to access the same life-changing experiences that launched the careers of artists like The Lathums and Ezra Collective.
When musicians use their platforms to advocate for youth clubs, music venues, and community spaces, they're speaking to the heart of our mission; ensuring that every young person has their chance to see, participate in, and be transformed by arts and culture. These aren't just places of entertainment; they're incubators of talent, builders of confidence, and gateways to future careers in the creative industries.
Today's young audience members are tomorrow's award-winning artists, and we're proud to play our part in making those journeys possible.
For the Fund to deliver on its promise, it must go beyond bricks and mortar to ensure there is a skilled, diverse, and well-supported workforce that can connect children and young people—particularly those facing disadvantage—to high-quality cultural experiences.
A Call to Artists: Be Part of the Change
To every artist or creative who remembers their first transformative cultural experience, we ask: could you be the next to change lives through a partnership with Curious Minds?
The Lathums have shown how artists can make a tangible difference in their communities. We invite other creatives with a platform: musicians, writers, actors, dancers, visual artists, and beyond; to follow their lead. We’d love to speak with you to explore how we can collaborate. Your involvement matters.
Contact us here to discuss how we can work together to create your own legacy fund.
Your journey began with inspiration. Help us ensure that the next generation's journey can begin too.
