25/07/2007
Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey is spearheading a drive to provide affordable rehearsal spaces for budding young musicians.
Culture Secretary James Purnell and Children's Secretary Ed Balls have tasked Sharkey, former chair of the Live Music Forum, with setting up a network of rehearsal studios for young musicians across the UK.
The move addresses the lack of affordable, well-equipped rehearsal studios, which means many young artists have nowhere to practice and no access to professional equipment. A recent report found that 43 per cent of young people who wanted to participate in musical activity didn't because of the lack of facilities or huge costs.
Sharkey will work with key music industry figures, local and regional government, equipment suppliers, the Music Manifesto board and others to set up the network. Work will involve getting funding, finding suitable locations and premises and turning them into proper studios.
A pilot project in Wrexham, which opened in January 2006, has already been a major success. The local council donated space free of charge and the Music Industries Association provided instruments and equipment. Between May and August 2006, more than 700 people used the rehearsal space.
Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, said:
"All young people should be able to develop their talents and achieve their ambitions. If their talent is for music then we want to give them an affordable and well-equipped place where they can practice and fulfil their potential. Both Feargal's report and the Music Manifesto identified a need for more facilities and this should help meet that."
Feargal Sharkey said:
"It's obvious that young musicians need somewhere decent to practice. Without new musicians and performers there is no £6bn music industry. Without them the UK wouldn't have such a fantastic reputation for groundbreaking music.
"But this isn't just about what we can do for the music industry. It's about ensuring young people have all the opportunity and support that we can possibly provide to get them into the creative industries. It's about giving them the confidence to play in front of an audience to discover themselves and discover their music. And it's simply about giving them somewhere to be creative."
Paul McManus, Chief Executive of the Music Industries Association, added:
"Our mission is to get everyone playing a musical instrument. We're delighted to be working with the Government to provide spaces and equipment to help people to do just that."
Read the Live Music Forum's recent report here.