The British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) has announced a bursary scheme that aims to address two issues at once: mental health among musicians, and the racial disparity among music professionals. The program will fund counselor or psychotherapist training for BIPOC music industry workers in the U.K.
BAPAM teamed up with Help Musicians UK and collective management organization PPL on the scheme, which will consist of five bursaries of up to £3,000 to cover course fees and allowances. The training they receive will be accredited by the UK Council for Psychotherapy, the British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies, or the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists.
“Following the call earlier this year from the Black Music Coalition for ‘tangible changes’ within the industry, BAPAM has explored how to improve the provision of mental health services that are accessible to Black, Asian and minority ethnic performers and performing arts professionals,” reads a PPL statement. “Poor mental health has been well evidenced in the music industry and has found the Black, Asian and minority ethnic community to be disproportionately affected, with few Black therapists working specifically with performing artists.”
The application deadline for BAPAM’s bursary scheme is December 16th. Applicants can find more information on the BAPAM website.
