SAGE GATESHEAD APPEALS FOR VOTES TO WIN A SHARE OF VITAL FUNDS
Sage Gateshead is asking people to get behind it and vote to help the charity win a share of Persimmon Homes’ Building Futures £1 million fund, supporting children and young people under the age of 18.
The international music centre, which engages with more than 30,000 children and young people every year, has been shortlisted in the final of the Education and Arts category where cash awards of £100,000, £50,000 or £20,000 will be made to those winning the most online votes.
Abigail Pogson, Sage Gateshead’s Managing Director said the venue, which is a registered charity, needed people’s support now more than ever.
She said: “Like many other organisations, we are facing an urgent financial challenge as a result of the pandemic. Despite these very significant challenges we are deeply committed to continuing our work with children and young people. During lockdown we took our Young Musicians Programme for four to 18 year-olds online and we are working hard to launch a new programme of activities to foster health and wellbeing in children and families.
“We want to ensure that no matter the circumstances, children and young people can enjoy the life changing benefits of music. This has never been more important than now and something as simple as clicking a button and giving us your vote could help us secure vital funds to help us continue and develop this. We would really appreciate everybody’s support.”
One of the programmes Sage Gateshead delivers in the West End of Newcastle is In Harmony, which aims to inspire and transform the lives of children through music. They are given an orchestral instrument to learn, play and perform in groups at school and venues such as Sage Gateshead.
Brody Flynn, a pupil at Bridgewater School in Scotswood, has been mastering the violin through In Harmony and his focus and confidence has grown each day.
His mum Leanne said: “Music helps with his focus and attention which are sometimes an issue otherwise in everyday life. It’s something at school which he feels really passionate about. He always comes home happy from In Harmony.”
The Building Futures fund is delivered through the Persimmon Charitable Foundation. Through the scheme, grants are awarded to groups supporting sport, education and arts and health across Persimmon’s 31 regional businesses and its head office. One initiative from each category goes on to win £100,000 each through a national award scheme to be decided by a public vote.
To vote for Sage Gateshead (North Music Trust) click here
You can vote once a day. Follow the campaign on Twitter and Facebook. Online voting opened will close at midnight on 18 September 2020.
Ends
For further information, interviews or images please contact:
Emily Taylor, PR & Communications Manager, Sage Gateshead
E: emily.taylor@sagegateshead.com M. 07793 762 879
Notes to Editors
- Since opening 15 years ago, Sage Gateshead has worked side by side with partners and the wider community to help address the complex blend of social and economic challenges the region faces.
- Sage Gateshead is a major employer of 500 people, and has brought investment and tourism into the region, generating c. £500 million contribution to the local economy.
- More importantly, Sage Gateshead has brought social, cultural and educational value to over 10 million people and millions more via digital and broadcast activity.
- The North East region is one of the worst affected by Covid-19. The region will be one where the recovery is slow and hard. Arts and culture have a pivotal role to play in regional and nation-wide recovery.
Sage Gateshead is an international music centre and renowned conference and event venue located in the North East of England. It is for artists, for audiences and for the North.
We are a charity and rely on the support of donors to ensure everyone in the North East community can experience the joy of music.
Every year we welcome more than two million visitors. More than 400 concerts featuring all kinds of local, regional and international music, take place all year round. Music-making and learning activity takes place not only in the building but across the region, with 190,000 people of all ages taking part in over 10,000 music classes and workshops.
The iconic building, designed by renowned architects Foster + Partners, is home to Royal Northern Sinfonia and is a place where emerging artists are nurtured through dedicated programmes and festivals.
Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to visual art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2018 and 2022, we will invest £1.45 billion of public money from government and an estimated £860 million from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country. www.artscouncil.org.uk