Music 'hot spots' planned through new £20m academy

The Glasshouse in Gateshead is launching a new music academy in locations across the North East and Cumbria

A major entertainment centre is fundraising to invest £20m into a new academy to develop the next generation of musicians.

The Glasshouse in Gateshead is aiming to support young musicians throughout their education and help them build a career in music.

Over the next two years, the academy will open four "music learning hot spots" in Middlesbrough, Carlisle, Sunderland and Kendal.

The organisation said the scheme had been designed to ensure young musicians could take their next step in developing their talent, whether that be picking up an instrument for the first time or pursuing a career.

Glasshouse CEO Abigail Pogson said the centre, previously called The Sage, had worked for the last 20 years to be a place people of all ages could make and experience music.

She said: "The Glasshouse Academy builds on this foundation by opening up even more opportunities for young people and ensuring the North East remains a thriving centre for music learning and professional development."

The Glasshouse Academy is aiming to help young people develop their musical talent and build a career

Later this year, the music centre will launch a £20m fundraising campaign, with the aim of raising £1m each year to fund the academy.

It has already received £2m from grant distributor The Foyle Foundation which will be invested over the next two decades.

Over the next two years, as well as creating the four learning hot spots, The Glasshouse intends to double the number of places available to young people wishing to learn music and expand its financial support to help people buy instruments.

Four music hot-spots will be created where young people can learn new skills

It will start a series of summer schools for young people and establish an inclusive youth orchestra for both disabled and non-disabled musicians.

It also plans to open The Glasshouse Studios where artists can produce work.

Applications for the centre's Make Music Young People's programme have also opened.

The Glasshouse said the creation of the academy would make it one of the few places in the world where young musicians "can access high-quality tuition across multiple genres, alongside a world-class live performance programme".