Darlington’s The Forum Secures Future with £75,000 Community Funding

The Forum, a small grassroots music venue in Darlington, has secured its future by successfully raising £75,000 through community shares. This establishment, which has served as a cultural centre in the heart of the town for two decades, was granted £400,000 in Arts Council funding in May. However, the team was required to raise £50,000 to access these funds, a goal they significantly surpassed. Allison Mckay, the chief executive, expressed her satisfaction with the fundraising achievement but voiced concerns regarding the prospects of other small venues and the “survival of the grassroots music industry.” The venue itself faced imminent closure in 2011 until a campaign led to its relaunch as a social enterprise under Ms Mckay’s leadership. She admitted to being “hopeful but not confident” about generating the necessary funds, describing it as a “very scary thing to embark on.” “We always knew we had strong community support, it’s heartwarming that people have taken their hard-earned money and put it in to something like this,” she stated. Ms Mckay further emphasized the broader industry context, adding, “But it’s no good us saying we are okay, looking across the country we actually rely on the whole network – the whole industry.” She concluded, “We need lots of grassroot music venues and new music to be out there to survive.” Ms Mckay indicated that the funds from the community shares would be invested in transforming The Forum into a “first-class venue” for both patrons and performing artists. She elaborated, “It’s about creating that experience in a small town in a small venue.” Dave Penman, a shareholder and member of the Darlington Blues Band DNA, commented on the venue’s significance. He stated: “Without the Forum we wouldn’t be here, it’s because of the rehearsal rooms the recording facilities and the ability to play live. “The atmosphere is incredible, mainly because it such a beautiful room, great staging and professional sound people.”” Paul Williams, the frontman for the Ska band The Skapones, highlighted the crucial role of small venues for the industry’s continued existence. He remarked: “Touring the UK we’ve seen how many venues we’ve played have gone.” Williams added: “Darlington has so much local talent and without places like this, there’s no outlet for music – it’s priceless.” For further updates, BBC Tees can be followed on X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. This content is copyrighted by BBC in 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC is not accountable for the content found on external sites and provides information regarding its approach to external linking.