A new Sheffield music venue has been awarded almost £120,000 of council funding to help complete the project after a meeting of the council’s Economic Development and Skills Policy Committee.
The Harmony Works project aims to transform Canada House, in Sheffield City Centre, into a space which can be used for music education, as part of the wider regeneration of the Castlegate area.
Councillor Martin Smith, Chair of the Sheffield City Council Economic Development and Skills Policy Committee, said: “An important part of the council is to promote and develop the cultural life of the city.
“We have a range of good cultural facilities, but one thing we’re potentially short of is another good space for classical music and performance.
“We’ve got some great nightclubs and rock venues, but what we’re trying to do with Harmony Works is developing it into a music hub for different styles of music.”
The project aims to centre children and young people’s music education at the heart of the plans.
The space also aims to pride itself on being sustainable, with the
zero-carbon vision featuring the building being powered by waste, and located
next to the tram stop.
A new home for music education in Sheffield is to receive more than £100,000 in funding to support its completion.
— Sheffield City Council (@SheffCouncil) February 22, 2024
We can't wait to see @harmony_works vision to transform the historic Canada House at Castlegate come to life.
More here: https://t.co/jSDAv7gkqF pic.twitter.com/bLBjje771e
Coun Smith said: “It’ll help people who enjoy music, it’ll help people who perform music and it’ll help people further their musical education.
“It’ll also help indirectly the Sheffield economy because the more we can do to make Sheffield a nice place to live and enjoy themselves. There’s a whole range of benefits.”
The building dates back to 1875, and was originally created as offices, before being used throughout the 20th and early 21st century as a nightclub, pub and restaurant.
It received Grade II* listed status in the 1970s, and the next stage of funding is to apply for a business case for the Arts Council
Coun Smith said: “I don’t know the exact timescale.
“We need to develop a detailed business case to submit to the Arts Council for a much larger funding application.
“It’s a substantial amount of money to take it to the next level, to then apply to the Arts Council for funding, which will be a few million quid.”