Personally coordinated by Sharkey and funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), the Knotty Ash site will be the first such facility in a nationwide network.
Equipment for these has been generously subsidised by the Music Industries Association.
Feargal Sharkey commented:
“The rehearsal room scheme is a wonderfully simple idea: first find a suitable location; kit it out with musical equipment; and then encourage young people in the surrounding area to get stuck in.
“The benefits stack up socially, economically and culturally - and hopefully some of those young people will pick up valuable skills and go on to work in one of our fantastic creative industries.
“The scheme also encapsulates how national and local government can work together with industry. The Knotty Ash facility will plug directly into Liverpool’s thriving music scene and local music business - encouraging creativity, bringing the community together and benefiting a new generation of musicians.”
Andy Burnham added:
“The rehearsal spaces at Knotty Ash are a fantastic new resource, providing a great leisure facility for young people and the chance to get experience in a whole range of areas that might lead to a career in the creative industries.
“This is just the beginning. Spaces owned by local authorities around the country are being transformed with Government money, and member companies of the Music Industries Association have been very generous in providing cut price instruments.
“We are focusing our efforts on areas of deprivation - both urban and rural - where there may be few other facilities for young people. These fully-equipped spaces will make a big difference for young people who are looking for somewhere to practise, spend time and find an outlet for their creative skills.”
Sharkey added that a number of other rehearsal spaces would open around the country this year, including locations in Bristol, Hastings, Manchester, Norfolk, Nottingham, St Austell and Washington: “Knotty Ash is the first domino to fall. A total of ten rehearsal facilities will have opened their doors by the end of 2009.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact Adam Webb on 07908 811223 or email
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Notes to editors: UK Music represents the collective interest of the UK’s commercial music industry: from artists, musicians, songwriters and composers, to record labels, music managers, music publishers, collecting societies and studio producers.
Our member organisations are: the Association of Independent Music (AIM), the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers & Authors (BASCA), BPI (British Recorded Music Industry) Limited, the Music Managers Forum (MMF), the Music Publishers Association Limited (MPA), the Musicians Union (MU), PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited) and PRS for Music.
