The Démos children’s orchestras, developed throughout France, bring music to places one might not expect. Founded in 2010, Démos is a cultural equility project focusing on playing music as part of an orchestra.

Within an overarching educational and artistic structure, it provides classical music training for children who, for economic, geographical or social reasons, lack easy access to this practice in existing institutions. The project is aimed at children aged seven to twelve living in urban priority neighbourhoods or in rural regeneration areas far from musical education institutions. Every child is lent a musical instrument for three years. The different groups of children who make up an orchestra take weekly classes (lasting three and a half hours on average) divided by instrument families and given by music professionals and staff working in the social sector. They regularly come together for an orchestral rehearsal (tutti). 

The Démos project, initially focused on the greater Paris area, was rolled out nationally from 2015 and now has around 50 orchestras across France, including overseas territories. Since 2010, over 10,000 children have participated.