Last Month I posted an update on the Town Hall project, and how it fitted in to our wider vision for Glossop. This month I turn the focus to Victoria Hall, the second of Glossop’s significant public buildings.
But before I do, I just want to handle an elephant in the room (For me at least). Why all this talk of buildings, when our vision for Glossop is about the supporting and developing a vibrant creative ecosystem within the town. As a Zoologist (OK its a stretch, but I do have a degree in Zoology!) I know that to thrive, an ecosystem needs a habitat and the halls form a key part of of that ecosystem. Whilst our primary vision is the community itself, our aim is that halls like Victoria Hall become the beating heart of that community.
Why is Victoria Hall key?
It was built and given to a charitable trust for the benefit of the people of Glossop as an arts and community venue, and has been used as such for over 100 years before closing a few years ago. In property circles, they say the top three priorities are Location Location Location! Happily the Hall is not far from the town centre, has a small car park which is part of that landholding (on the opposite side of Fauvel Road) and that will ultimately transfer to the prospective new charity to take an asset transfer of the building from High Peak BC in due course. Further, the project is assured of being able to use a large area of land very close by for parking when larger events take place there. On this measure, as a performance venue Victoria Hall is well placed. And it has amazing spaces within as all who have visited and inspected it know. And while it is in a relatively quiet residential area it has the scope to become a community activity focus for all those who do and will be living there.
It is a key community asset as well as being a valued historic Listed Building which many are concerned to see preserved and given a sustainable long term use. It provides a purpose built, substantial performance venue with the potential to house a 250 seater performance venue alongside associated arts facilities like rehearsal and workshop rooms, exhibition space and meeting rooms. It also has a dedicated group of individuals focused on bringing this vision to reality. Nowhere else in the town has this potential, so Victoria Hall is key building and has the potential to be The Jewel in Glossop’s Crown.”
The Challenge of Community Arts Projects
Despite being a key component of our vision, on its own running Victoria Hall as an arts centre has some financial challenges. They are clearly set out in the major Feasibility Study commissioned in 2018. It’s a well-known fact that making regional arts venues financially viability is indeed a challenge. Whilst grants can go some way to mitigating this, the plan is to consider Victoria Hall, and other Arts/Community assets in the town as part of a bigger picture. A picture that includes more commercial aspects like the Town Hall, Market Hall and commercial / creative workspace in the town centre. The Victoria Arts Centre team have always recognised that some form of additional external income will be crucial to their project and seek a form of “cross subsidy” from other income generating sources. Happily High Peak BC are aware and accepting of this critical need.
By creating an environment of co-management and cross subsidy between venues and the more commercial assets, there is a much better chance of balancing the books. But this is far from being a one way relationship with commercial assets supporting community and arts assets. In reality the relationship between the two sites will be far more symbiotic as the buzz and interest created by venues like Victoria Hall and associated activities including spin off performances and exhibitions in the town centre complex and around the town create a much more attractive proposition for those interested in living or doing business in Glossop. Together they therefore make a major potential contribution to the attractiveness of this town as a place both to live and run businesses and the positive growth of the local economy.
So What about the Next 12 Months
In my last post, I talked about Glossop Creates. Our initiative is to support and grow the arts and hospitality sectors in the town as we come out of Covid-19 restrictions.
At its heart, Glossop Creates is about community. But community needs to meet. Whilst this is not possible at the moment due to restrictions on gatherings, our hope and expectation is that over the next 6-12 months, these restrictions will lift, and gatherings will become possible again. When this does happen Victoria Hall represents the perfect venue. It is light and airy and has the space to host gatherings without the need to pack people in! Thus, it is the perfect venue in these times. We anticipate that whilst the restrictions have meant a slow start for Glossop Creates over the last 6 months, we have some exciting activities planned over the next six months, both at the Victoria Hall and around the town so be sure to connect with us on Social Media, or sign up as a supporter or Member, and we will be sure to keep you posted on all our activities.”
Furthermore, if you would like to sign up as a friend of Victoria Hall, let us know and we would be happy to put you in touch.
