rehearsal spaces

In December 2007, the former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, James Purnell, pledged £500,000 to set up a number of music rehearsal spaces for young people in areas experiencing multiple deprivation.

The £500,000, which underlines the Government’s commitment to support live music, will kick start the establishment of a pilot scheme of about a dozen affordable, professionally-equipped community music rehearsal spaces in England over the next two years. These spaces will be created in partnership with local and regional government, the music industry and other private sector support.

Feargal Sharkey, the former Chairman of the Live Music Forum, was asked jointly by James Purnell and the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Ed Balls, to lead the work in creating these rehearsal spaces by identifying suitable locations and building the necessary partnerships. Support has already been secured from the British Phonographic Industry, the Association of Independent Music, Sony-BMG Music Entertainment (UK) and the MCPS/PRS Alliance.

In the longer term, DCMS is committed to leading an expansion of the project so that more communities may benefit. It will be exploring the scope for supporting future rehearsal spaces from other funding streams, such as the Treasury’s Unclaimed Assets Scheme.