Key to the future: Music Hub gives young people a major part in North Shields Cultural Quarter
Young musicians are scoring a range of new opportunities as their Music Hub takes up residence in North Shields Cultural Quarter.
North Tyneside Music Education Hub is now based in the Business Centre on Saville Street. It’s in a prime position for exciting collaborations, with neighbours including Helix Arts, the Globe Gallery, the Exchange 1856 and King Street Social Club.
Joint projects are already being planned including performances, mentoring, behind-the-scenes music technology training and the chance to shadow professional musicians during gigs at local venues.
North Shields Cultural Quarter is part of North Tyneside Council’s ambitious plans for North Shields, enhancing and growing the creative economy. It is supported by the North East Combined Authority.
The hub offers a wide range of free musical activities for young musicians of all ages and standards. These include youth choir, orchestra, strings, music theory, jazz and a rock school.
The groups meet weekly in term-time at venues across North Tyneside. The young people are given regular opportunities to perform, and can access a vast instrument store.
In September 2024, North Tyneside Council became the lead partner for a £3.7 million regional Music Hub consortium covering Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, Northumberland, South Tyneside, and Sunderland. £1 million of the funding is to support the purchase of new instruments. It’s part of a national programme delivered by Arts Council England on behalf of the Department for Education, in partnership with schools, local authorities, community groups, music organisations, industry and more.
North Tyneside Music Education Hub lead Julie Dorr said: “Since we relocated into our new offices in the heart of North Shields Cultural Quarter we have had so many inspiring conversations and offers to work together with amazing creative people.
“There’s such a buzz in North Shields at the moment, it’s infectious, and it’s getting passed on to the children and young people. By being in North Shields we’re making stronger links with incredible industry role models like Geoff Kirkwood of Man Power, Bernii Mac of Becoming the Artist and Susan French of Crew Gal.
“We already had a great relationship with Helix Arts through the North Tyneside Cultural Education Partnership, but now we share a building we can work together even more closely to offer opportunities to our young people.
“North Shields Cultural Quarter project manager Karen Taws has a desk here too, so she’s on hand to give us lots of support and ideas to grow our work.
“It’s wonderful to be part of a creative network that our young people can access now, into early adulthood and beyond.
“We’ve been working with North Shields Opera Chorus, we have close ties with the Exchange 1856 theatre who welcome us for concerts, performances, and meetings, we have our weekly rock school at Traxx Studios in North Shields, and we are supported by Music Partnership North Newcastle.
“Our large freelance workforce love us being here. With 38 freelancers on the team, North Tyneside Business Centre allows space for them to come in and make contact.
“Importantly, we take our work out to all parts of North Tyneside, with hundreds of young people attending Saturday morning sessions at the Langdale Centre in Wallsend, mid-week sessions at John Spence High School, and performances at events across the borough such as markets, concerts and festivals, working with North Tyneside Council events team.”
Cllr Carl Johnson, Deputy Mayor for North Tyneside and cabinet member responsible for Regeneration, Economic Development and Culture said: “The creative economy in North Shields is really taking off, and there’s so much positive news coming out of North Shields Cultural Quarter right now.
“This is an exciting time for artists and creative businesses, and it’s fantastic to see North Tyneside’s young musicians being given new opportunities thanks to this tide of creative energy in and around North Shields.
“I wish North Tyneside Music Education Hub every success in its new home, and I look forward to seeing what comes of all the collaborations and joint projects being planned.”
