WORCESTER'S Huntington Hall is to help aspiring young musicians, after scooping more than £30,000 for a pioneering project offering advice and support.

The venue has received the funds from the Regional Arts Lottery Programme for its Something Old, Something New project, which will provide a mentoring scheme for promising folk musicians.

The Deansway-based Hall is one of seven art centres to receive a share of the £348,909 cash injection from the programme, administered by West Midlands Arts.

Malvern Theatres Trust Limited has received £20,500 to purchase multimedia equipment to attract touring companies to its Forum Theatre.

Worcester Action for Youth has also benifited, scooping scooped £2,000 for its music taster sessions, which give youths the opportunity to try out a variety of musical instruments.

Esther Blaine, assistant director at Huntingdon Hall, said organisers were delighted with the two-year cash injection, which would help young folk musicians by teaming them up with established artists and groups.

"We're very excited about this. It's an educational project based on folk music, which will help young musicians improve their musical ability," she said.

"They will also learn how to address their audiences and how to introduce songs, which are the sort of skills which can take a long time to learn.

"The course will give up-and-coming talent advice and skills which would take years to learn, by giving them the chance to work with professional and experienced performers."

Ms Blaine added that the award, the largest the Hall has ever received, demonstrated the confidence West Midlands Arts had in work being carried out at there.

"It just shows there is a real belief in the Hall and what we are doing here," she added.

Rachel Simpson, theatre administrator at Malvern, said the cash was excellent news, as it would enhance dance productions.