North East music centre asks public to buy into its mission
Written by Lily Ballentine on 27th September 2024
A North East music centre is asking locals to reach into their pockets and give money to support their community.
The Forum Music Centre, in Darlington, which promotes local music, launched a community share offer on Friday 20th September, asking the public to invest directly in its future ability to support local musicians.
Money contributed through the scheme will go towards the improvement of the building and its facilities.
Planned improvements include building more environmentally-friendly facilities, a green room and a mezzanine.
Live music at The Forum in Darlington
The need for more support for the North East’s music scene has long been acknowledged.
According to a study carried out by the charity Youth Music, 98% of young musicians in the North of England have never performed live.
Despite this, having interviewed regional musicians, in his 2024 book Too Far North?, author Ian Fawdon said: “Everyone was proud of the North East and its music scene”.
It is this pride, community spirit and need for support that prompted The Forum’s share scheme, to give the public a chance to directly help improve the venue, by buying shares.
Although the Arts Council UK has offered a £404,000 grant towards the improvements, The Forum needs to raise a further £50,000 to secure that money.
The Forum Music Centre in Darlington
Along with the shares, the centre will also be holding a raffle, with the prizes including memorabilia from Mark Knopfler, lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of the band Dire Straits.
Since Mark and his brother David, were both raised in Blyth, the band is strongly associated with the North East.
In his discussion of contemporary regional bands, such as the post-punk Sunderland-based groups the Futureheads and Field Music, Fawdon highlighted the DIY ethic in the region’s music scene – which is also driving The Forum’s efforts.
“Twenty years after it [the Sunderland scene] began, its protagonists are still going and are opening venues and studios in the city,” he wrote. “They are helping to drive cultural change and usher in the next generation of talent.”
Along with their facilities, The Forum also offers the Young Blood programme, funded by the Arts Council, which helps young people immerse themselves in live music. One of the ways they do this is through Young Blood: Live, which provides monthly gig nights for 13-17-year-olds.
With only 36 days left to buy a share, The Forum are hoping the North East public will rise to the challenge of helping support the region’s grassroots music scene.
If you would like to get involved, you can donate here.
