Grant takes city music hub step closer to opening
A historic Sheffield building has taken another step closer to being transformed into a regional music hub.
Harmony Works Trust has secured £1m from the Garfield Weston Foundation as part of its long-term ambition to redevelop the grade II* listed Canada House in the city centre.
The foundation distributes more than £80m annually across the arts, education, youth, health, community, environment and welfare and sectors.
Harmony Works said it was “thrilled and deeply grateful” for the funding which will help it create rehearsal, performance and education spaces for young musicians.
Emily Pieters, project director at Harmony Works, said more fundraising was required: “We still need to raise over £1m to facilitate the transformation of Canada House and unlock the full potential of this iconic building.”
The latest pledge adds to a growing list of funders, including £4.7m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and £3.5m from Arts Council England.
Additional support has also been secured from Sheffield Council, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, the government’s Levelling Up fund and several other trusts and foundations.
Canada House was originally built as offices for the Sheffield United Gas Light Company and played a key role manufacturing gas burners.
It remained offices for the Gas Board until 1972, and, after lying vacant and facing the threat of demolition, was awarded listed building status.
Since then, the building has been Turn Ups nightclub, Bloomers pub, offices for Panache Lingerie and a Chinese buffet restaurant. It was last open to the public in 2011.
The new centre of excellence for music education in South Yorkshire would feature Sheffield Music Academy, Sheffield Music Hub, Brass Bands England and others.
Construction is expected to begin next year, with the new hub scheduled to open in late 2027.
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