Ten areas around the country are to pilot the government's £25m "find your talent" programme to give young people access to culture.
Under the scheme young people will be funded to experience five hours a week both in and outside of school.
Children in the pilot areas will be encouraged to discover and develop their talents in the cultural sphere.
In time, the government wants all young people to have the right to experience five hours of arts and culture every week.
The pilots will trial different ways of offering young people a range of cultural experiences both within schools and in professional art settings.
Culture secretary Andy Burnham said: "Find Your Talent is a truly exciting initiative that could open minds and change young lives.
"Enjoying and exploring culture and the arts is not a luxury, or an add-on, for young people.
"It matters in its own right, and can be a way of developing essential life skills like communication and creativity, and contribute to personal development and self-esteem.
"Too many young people still leave school without ever really finding out what they could be good at: the things that could be the basis of a fulfilling life.
"These pilots will kick off the long process of putting that right. Their importance cannot be overstated."
Ministers will now also be working on proposals to galvanise the enthusiasm for the initiative from all over the country.
Burnham added: "I've been encouraged by the quantity and quality of the applications we've received since we first launched this initiative.
"The level of interest proves the cynics wrong and shows this scheme has struck a chord with many.
"It would be a real shame if this momentum was now lost, so we will also be looking at ways to harness that energy, and I hope to have firm proposals to do that in time for the pilots' launch in September."
Children's secretary Ed Balls said: "Giving young people the opportunity to take part in cultural activities will not only enrich their lives - but also help them learn.
"Schools already offer many cultural activities in school hours, for example in music, art, and English in the curriculum, and there is already much cultural activity taking place outside school and beyond the school day.
"The five hour offer is about building on this and giving all children and young people the opportunity to take part in cultural activities.
"The pilots will explore different approaches to making a reality of 'Find Your Talent'. We will work closely with schools as the pilots are taken forward to ensure a bureaucracy-light approach.
"But it is not just about schools: a whole range of bodies including museums, theatres and local arts organisations will be involved, working in partnership with schools."
