26.11.2010: Young people in Nottingham are being given new opportunities to make music and benefit from a range of youth services at a newly equipped music rehearsal space as part of CRS studio based at Russell Youth Club. 

Formally opened today (November 26th) by UK Music Chief Executive Feargal Sharkey and Minister for Culture and the Creative Industries Ed Vaizey, the space will give young people the chance to develop their talents, confidence and skills through a range of music activities. The wide-variety of opportunities range from instrumentation, vocal training, lyric writing, sound engineering and production, through to artist development and live performance.

The centre, in the St Ann’s area of Nottingham, is one of 14 rehearsal spaces across the country. Supported by UK Music and members of the Music Industries Association (MIA) who have donated cut-price instruments, the scheme was set up with a £500,000 fund from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Within the next few weeks, all 14 spaces will be up and running, with industry and Government committed to ensuring their continued success.

Aimed at local teenagers and young adults aged 16-25 the spaces provide the opportunity to play and rehearse with a range of musical instruments from turntables to violins, to use recording and production equipment and experience live performance. And, as well as providing access to music facilities, the Nottingham centre is a gateway for connecting with local youth services and support and to make links to industry and education.

Feargal Sharkey, CEO of UK Music, said:

“I’ve always worked on the principle that, if a young person shows interest in banging a drum…then give them a drum.

“The rehearsal space scheme works on the same principle: give young people easy access to a range of music-making equipment and the space to create, and they will use it. Nottingham will prove no different to spaces in Liverpool, Cornwall, Sunderland or Bristol where nearly 450 have registered in the short time it has been open.

“For such a small investment, the impact is extraordinary. The spaces may provide a first step for the next global superstar or music entrepreneur. Or they may simply instil a young person with the confidence to think, ‘I can do that,’ and open doors to a career in the creative industries. Going forward, UK Music is committed to working with Government to develop a fully-functioning network. We’ll soon have 14 spaces up and running.”

Minister for the Creative Industries, Ed Vaizey said:

“This new music rehearsal space in Nottingham is a great way to bring together young people from across the local community and to inspire and motivate them through music. This is a great example of the Big Society in action because the young people here are making decisions about what they want in their communities.

“I’m very grateful to UK Music for their help so far, and to the MIA and their members who provided the instruments and equipment at this and the other spaces at discounted prices. This is a great example of what can be achieved when the private and public sectors collaborate.”

CRS Studio Manager, Trevor Rose said:

“CRS seeks to realise the potential of young people through music. We are, therefore, tremendously proud to be selected as one of the national Music Rehearsal Space pilots and are grateful for the support given from DCMS, Nottingham City Council, and the music industry. We can now move forward positively to develop the musicality and life chances of Nottingham’s young people for many years to come.”