Fury over closure of music project

Hamish Hutchinson • Published 18 Aug 2010 09:32 Comments 1 Comment

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Craig Hawkes and William McPhee, of the band Break Through Reality, are disgusted by the closure of the music project.

YOUNG musicians have hit out at the council for temporarily closing a project that has provided the launching pad for more than 40 bands from across the county.

The Glasshouse Loan Music Project provided a recording studio and several practice rooms for young musicians to meet and share ideas, as well as shore up their skills every week.

However the project was temporarily suspended on Monday as the council enacted plans to close its building in Glasshouse Loan by the end of September, saving an estimated £30,000 a year.

In a statement, Councillor George Matchett, Portfolio Holder for Inclusion, said the council was seeking "alternative venues" for the project which the Advertiser understands include the community centre in Tillicoultry.

The decision has enfuriated musicians who regulaly use the facility and a facebook page 'Clackmannanshire Council - HOW DARE YOU CLOSE THE GLASSHOUSE MUSIC PROJECT!' has been created with more than 100 members so far.

A petition is also calling on the council to save the project in its current form.

Run by council worker and former Beautiful South saxophonist Kevin Brown, more than 150 teenagers would use the facility every week for drum, guitar or DJ tuition while bands could use the venue to rehearse and perform live shows.

The project was closed over the summer and was due to reopen on Monday. However when musicians arrived at 6pm for the first guitar session they were informed it had been temporarily cancelled.

Alloa father James Armitage, who arrived with his son, told the Advertiser, "It's an absolute scandal. It's a fraction of the price you pay for private tuition and you get a longer period of time to practice."

A mother whose son attended guitar tuition said, "I'm quite shocked really. It's such a fantastic thing for the guys that come every week and it gave them a genuine interest in music.

"Some of them dream of being a band and making it in the business and having something like this gave them the opportunity to do that, so it's a shame that it should be taken away from them.

"It's been closed all summer so the council should have put something on the website to let everyone know the situation."

The only indication of the project closing temporarily appeared on the local authority website Clacksweb on Tuesday morning.

It stated, "Workshops and rehearsals are currently on hold but we hope to find a new venue soon. We apologise for any inconvenience."

Break Through Reality, one of many bands to use the building as a rehearsal and recording studio, were disappointed at the closure.

Bass player Craig Hawkes (18) said, "Glasshouse Loan is the reason I play music.

"We heard previously that it might be shutting but we didn't really know what was going to happen.

"We played the Barrowlands on Friday and we wouldn't have been ready for that gig if we hadn't had this place to rehearse. Nothing can better it."

Band mate William McPhee (16) added, "We formed the band here. I've been in five bands in the past and I'm in three at the moment. Down here everybody knows everybody.

"It's a great place to come down and hang out together. Every room is being used, nothing is going to waste."

Councillor George Matchett, Portfolio Holder for Inclusion, said, "The building will close at the end of September and we are currently looking at alternative venues for the music project.

"Given the expected reduction in funding to local government in Scotland, we are looking at delivering our services in a different way, and the music project is not exempt from that process.

"I would like to apologise to those parents and young people who have been disappointed. We are working hard to resolve this situation."

Other Glasshouse Loan tenants, Reachout with Arts in Mind, are already in negotiations for new premises.

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

TheGlasshouseProject
Unregistered User
Oct 18, 14:31
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The Glasshouse Project is currently open as normal.

There is a re-structuring of the current fees for the services provided by the Glasshouse in it's new form, details can be found on

www.theglasshouseproject.co.uk

We are currently looking to take on new bands, and offer new improved servies to the bands involved.

Please get in touch for more details. Rehearsal space is currently available most nights.

contact : contact@theglasshouseproject.co.uk

or pop in to see us, 4-8 Glasshouse Loan, Alloa, FK10 1PF.

Thanks

TGP.

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